SHU TV Students Interview Monsignor Reilly: “Seton Hall Is My Home”

Seton Hall University Television (SHU TV) is the newest destination for student television production and content and offers unique opportunities for students, both on camera and behind the scenes. Integrated within the College of Human Development, Culture and Media (CHDCM), SHU TV is the sole broadcast network created “by the students, for the students.”

Founded in 1990 and formerly known as Pirate TV, this diverse group of students currently leads the charge producing a variety of live and pre-taped video content, including a recent interview with Seton Hall University’s 22nd President, Monsignor Joseph Reilly.

In the interview, Monsignor Reilly shared about growing up in a Catholic household in New Jersey, his path to the priesthood and eventually to the presidency. He also reflected on his own time as a student at Seton Hall University, which he describes as a “family he was a part of before he was even born.”

“Relationships are the heart of the network and [Seton Hall] community,” said Monsignor Reilly during the interview. “Having a sense of rootedness in a particular community lends itself to stability.”

As director of programming, Jorge A. Rivera ’25 spearheaded the development of SHU TV’s signature programming and recent interview with Monsignor. For Rivera, the interview was an opportunity to get to know the president and his values and views, as well as insight into goals for the University. “Seeing him articulate the prioritization of students above all else brings clarity and transparency to the Office of the President, which is something I think the wider community would find great interest in,” said Rivera.

“At this point in my service, we are trying to provide an opportunity where people feel comfortable to discover their God-given gifts,” Monsignor Reilly told SHU TV.  According to the president, one current goal is to show the Seton Hall community that the people working, teaching and serving are “here for the same reason: the good of the students.”

“This is a point of pride for us in such an eventful first year,” said Rivera, who is eager for students, faculty and the Seton Hall community at large to hear from Monsignor Reilly. “I hope this sheds light on the talent of SHU TV and the student broadcasters of Seton Hall [who are] capable of producing an interview akin to ‘60 Minutes’,” he said.

"I am so unbelievably proud of the work of our students in SHU TV.  They run Campus Nightly as a professional production,” said Chris Aurilio, director of production and facilities at CHDCM.  “The past year has been so impressive, and they have really shown us what student broadcasters and producers are capable of. I can't wait to see what they have planned for next year."

For Rivera, working on a variety of projects for SHU TV — including an eight-hour long special on Election Night 2024 executed by a team of 30 students — prepared him for both the technical and logistical sides of broadcasting while also introducing him to a variety of perspectives. Ultimately, he is confident that his experience at SHU TV prepared him to “work on his feet” in a rapid industry.

SHU TV provides broadcasting and communications students with hands-on experience aligned with industry-level studio productions. Through SHU TV, students have anchored breaking coverage events, operated cutting-edge broadcast equipment, direct production teams, developed brand imagery and, of course, interviewed esteemed community members such as Monsignor Reilly.

Beyond basic mastery of these industry skills, students encounter a diverse community with a shared vision: applying techniques learned in CHCDM coursework to amplify the student voice in the Seton Hall media sphere and beyond.

All current programming and past archives made by SHU TV and Pirate TV can be found on its YouTube page. Updates and behind-the-scenes photos are also available on its Instagram.

Looking to get involved? Please contact, Director of Production/Facilities Chris Aurilio in the College of Human Development, Culture and Media at [email protected].

Categories: Arts and Culture, Campus Life