Temple University’s Klein College of Media and Communication is home to a plethora of student-run media outlets and organizations. These organizations give students the chance to gain hands-on experience, not only in reporting and production, but leadership roles as well. Despite being student-run, these media outlets would not be as successful without the guidance of talented advisors.
At the beginning of this month, it was announced that John DiCarlo, KLN ‘98, won the College Media Association’s 2024 Distinguished Advisor Award.
DiCarlo has an impressive resume. He is an adjunct professor of journalism and the managing director of the Claire Smith Center for Sports Media. DiCarlo also works as the managing director of student media at Klein College. Additionally, he serves as the advisor for The Temple News, Templar Yearbook and WHIP Radio.
Before working at Klein College, DiCarlo was a sports reporter for The Daily Journal. Though he looks on his time there fondly, after four years in that newsroom, DiCarlo began to grow dissatisfied.
“I fe[lt] like I [was] having a mid-20s crisis, I always thought I would be a sports reporter,” explained DiCarlo. “I never thought about what I would do if I didn’t want to do this anymore.”
Luckily, DiCarlo had stayed in touch with two of his past Klein professors, Linn Washington and Tom Eveslage. They both recommended that he apply for an open advisory position at The Temple News.
“I was scared out of my mind because I wasn’t sure if I was doing the right thing,” DiCarlo said. “But then I got the job, and something in my gut told me, let’s do this.”
No one understands the importance of student media more than DiCarlo and the students who work under him. Samuel O’Neal, a senior journalism major and the editor-in-chief of The Temple News, believes that student media has a certain charm in terms of relationship-building and real-world experience.
“Even when you go on to have a full-time job, I don’t think you can replicate the same feeling of being involved with your student paper or radio,” O’Neal remarked. “The relationships you build, the people you work with, like John, it’s really like a little community.”
This is why DiCarlo has stayed for over 20 years. To him, nothing can replace the purpose-driven work produced in student media, nor the students who continue to challenge him.
“When you think of everything they have to do – decision making, trying to be fair and thorough – the work they’re doing is not easy,” DiCarlo said. “I’m always working with a really engaged group of students who are super fun to be around.”
O’Neal thinks DiCarlo has made a far-reaching impact on the Klein College community. He has positively affected everyone, no matter who they are.
“Whether you’re talking to a past or current student or employee, the first thing they bring up is John. Everyone has a John story,” acknowledged O’Neal.
Raymond Dunne, KLN ‘22, is a former student of DiCarlo’s who currently works for the radio station 97.5 The Fanatic. He believes that, if not for DiCarlo, he would not hold the position he does.
“I think I speak for a countless number of John’s former students who have had not just their careers bettered by him, but their lives bettered as well,” attests Dunne. “What sets him apart is the way he looks out for you as a person…I can say for certain that without having him in my life, I would be nowhere near where I am today.”
Dunne, who wrote a letter of recommendation for DiCarlo’s award nomination, also states that the person he is shines through in his work at Klein College.
“He uplifts and empowers students to be their best because he is someone who genuinely sees the best in people and wants the best for everyone,” Dunne explained. “If John needed me to drive my recommendation letter to the awards ceremony in Louisiana, I would. He’s just that good of a person.”
DiCarlo was stunned when he learned he had won the Distinguished Advisor Award, recalling the great award winners in past years.
“There are so many advisors around the country that do really great work, so I wasn’t planning on being upset if I did not get it,” said DiCarlo. “But then I did receive it, and it was really flattering.”
O’Neal, on the other hand, did not doubt that DiCarlo would receive the award. “I’m super excited for him, and I would have been shocked if he didn’t get it.”
DiCarlo is proof of the strong mentorship that is available within the community at Klein College and will continue to positively impact students for years to come.