Xavier professor’s documentary wins Emmy award

February 23, 2024

By Cameron Olmo, Staff Writer

On Nov. 3, Xavier broadcasting assistant professor-of-practice, Monica Pierre, won her third Emmy in her career, as an executive producer for the documentary: “Battlegrounds: The Lost Community of Fazendeville.”  

The documentary took three years of research and production to bring this story back to life of the injustice this African American community faced when their homes and land were taken away in the mid-1960s. She was inspired to tell stories because her mother had made her and her siblings watch the news.  

“She would make us watch midday news, morning news, evening news, she was really the one who knew,” Pierre said. Pierre had originally wanted to pursuing acting, and had considered studying theatre, but changed her major at least three times with the final being in mass communication. Her turning point was when her college roommate had invited her to the news station she worked at and she was amazed by her voice and how she kept the audience engaged.  

“I said, ‘I think I can do that.’ So, I changed my major the next day,” Pierre said. 

That decision led to an award-winning career as a journalist and broadcaster before she pivoted to training the next generation of media professionals at Xavier.  

“I never want to be at a point where I don’t want to learn. That’s how you stay relevant, that’s how you stay hungry, that’s how you stay open to opportunities that come your way,” Pierre said about the industry and how she trains her students. 

Pierre is described as an important role model for a generation of women broadcasters in the city, even before teaching at Xavier, as even her colleagues look up to her.  

“She is one of the voices of my childhood,” said Dr. Nia Mason, an assistant professor of mass communication. Mason said she would listen to Pierre’s morning show on WQUE-FM Q93.3 radio, called “Monica and CJ in the morning.” Mason said students can see in the classroom Pierre’s accomplishments, skill sets, knowledge and experience and the many lessons she has learned throughout her career.  

“I see how hard she works and even though she still accomplishes so much, she’s still a major go-getter. It’s a motivation in itself,” Mason said.  

Her students have said that she is an inspirational kind of professor because of her creativity in assignments and her classes in general.  

“I’ve only known her for half a year and she’s one of the most innovative and influential professors that I’ve ever known,” said Ja’lyn Jones, one of her broadcast announcing students. Jones also describes her as a go-getter, which is inspirational to him. He has started working on his own podcast using the elements she has taught him. Her influence is what caused him to become more confident in his choice of profession, which he desires to chase in his future career.  

“Being in her radio/broadcast class helped me become more social and more talkative, like right now. Without her influence, I wouldn’t be talking as fluently as I am now. It resonates with you,” Jones said.