Journalism Professor David Chanatry Announces Retirement
David Chanatry, a distinguished professor of journalism, retired at the end of the fall 2024 semester after 21 years of teaching service to the Communication and Media major. He taught courses in broadcast news writing, television news reporting, producing and documentary film making. Throughout his tenure, he inspired many students to pursue careers in broadcast journalism.
Chanatry came to Utica University as a veteran journalist whose career spanned television, radio and print, spent 20 years at NBC News, writing and producing news stories for several programs including NBC Nightly News and The Today Show. His expertise allowed Utica University to build a strong broadcasting program. He created the broadcast journalism concentration in the public relations and journalism major. Chanatry designed several courses including Broadcast News Writing, Television News Production and Reporting, and Producing the Newscast. Eventually Chanatry added, as an elective, Documentary Filmmaking. And recently he redesigned the Media Ethics course.
His reporting work has also appeared on NPR’s Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Day to Day and Living on Earth; Public Radio International’s The World; BBC Radio News; and The World Vision Report, and he was a contributor to The Washington Post and other publications. He has reported overseas from Kosovo, Albania and the Sudan.
Chanatry’s work with students often went beyond the bounds of the classroom. He mentored students in covering Utica University’s Forensic Anthropology Field School in Albania. Chanatry and students reported on students’ experiences analyzing the human skeletal remains from Roman and medieval graves. Stories about the experience aired on WRVO and WAME.
"What really stands out to me now are those students who I helped from time to time, maybe seeking advice or telling me about a new job. They mean more to me than they will ever know."
Chanatry recalled taking students into the field to work on a superfund cleanup, the local dairy industry, abolition day in Utica, Word of Life vigil following the beating death of a youth by church followers, hydrofracking, Nano-Utica, Chobani Yogurt boom, and “my all-time favorite – Ray Biggs and I crowding into boats with USGS and Cornell University scientists as they gill-netted fish on Oneida Lake.” Biggs’ story was broadcast all over Texas.
“I remember what it was like when I got out of school and had no idea what to do or if I could even get a job,” said Chanatry. “So what really stands out to me now are those students who I helped from time to time, maybe seeking advice or telling me about a new job. They mean more to me than they will ever know.”
He also developed the New York Reporting Project in 2011, a non-profit journalism program, that created in-depth stories that were aired on regional public radio stations.
His work with students has inspired many careers in journalism. Some of those include:
- Angie Grande ’05, senior director, NBCU Local Streaming News Channel, Miami
- Amelia Rawlins-Henry ’10, News 12’s Brooklyn bureau chief
- Katrina Smith ’07, news anchor, WKTV NewsChannel2, Utica
- A.T. Bianco ’17, associate producer at CBS News, New York City; creator/host of Loud Music Only
- Celeste Gessner ’21, CBS 7, weekend anchor and producer, Odessa, Texas
- Nancy Asiamah ’12, digital producer, CBS News, Boston
Chanatry’s work has garnered many awards. He won a Broadcast Education Association (BEA) award for hard news about lead poisoning affecting Roma refugees in Kosovo and an audio short form award for his coverage of an Albanian youth group in 2007. In 2009 he won BEA’s Best of Competition Award for his story Kosovo Violence. He won “Best of” in the faculty news category at the BEA’s Media Arts Festival in 2015 for a story about small town heroin abuse. Another report won a BEA “Best of” Festival Award for “Seneca Lake Blockade,” in the radio hard news reporting category and Best of Competition for Radio Feature News Reporting for his story “Church Closing” in 2016, which focused on the decline of mainstream Protestant churches in Upstate N.Y.
Some of his freelance work involved national events such as the brutal beating of two brothers at the Word of Life Church cult in New Hartford. His pieces were carried on WRVO News, WAMC News, WSKG News and North Country Public Radio.
Chanatry received his undergraduate degree in history from Hamilton College and his master’s degree in telecommunications from Syracuse University.
Before joining Utica University, Chanatry spent 2001-2002 as a Knight Fellow in Science Journalism at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and has served as a judge for the American Association for the Advancement of Science broadcast awards.
Most recently, Chanatry co-produced a documentary film, Utica: The Last Refuge, the story of refugees and how Chanatry’s hometown has welcomed them. Chanatry and his partners worked with Off Ramp Films on the production. Utica: The Last Refuge details the journey of a Sudanese family and how upon resettling in Utica, they were assisted by The Center, a resource center for refugees in the Mohawk Valley.
In 2017, Chantry became the moderator of the WCNY’s Ivory Tower, a panel- based discussion focusing on news and current events from the viewpoint of college professors from across the region. Chanatry plans to continue hosting Ivory Tower, which airs on Fridays at 8 p.m. on WCNY-TV.
He will also ski as often as he can and will hike the 26 New York State mountains with fire towers (The Fire Tower Challenge). A sailboat purchase might be a retirement activity. And, of course, getting to Yankee Stadium more than once a season!
Angela Grande '05
Senior Director, NBCU Local Streaming New Channels, NBCUniversal
I am proud to say I was in Professor Chanatry’s class during his first year at Utica University. I remember thinking he was SO cool because he’d worked for NBC in NYC before coming to teach.
Professor Chanatry’s class was my first introduction to broadcast writing. I was immediately hooked! I remember hanging on every word as Mr. Chanatry used real-life examples from stories he covered around the world. Did I mention I thought he was the coolest? I still do.
From teaching me the basics of broadcast writing, to coaching me through my internship, to cheering me on when I got each new job, to bringing me back to class to share my experiences with his current students, Dave has always been in my corner. He will forever be a part of my success story.
Daeshan Buseck ’18
Director of Video Production, Mellow Mako
Professor Chanatry is truly one of a kind. His unwavering belief in my potential has shaped my journey, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without his constant encouragement and inspiration while attending Utica University.
Professor Chanatry exemplifies what it means to be a great educator, father, and mentor. His steadfast belief in his students transforms lives, and many of us owe our careers to his guidance and support.
Professor Chanatry was not only an outstanding professor and advisor but also the person who steered me in the right direction. Even though Utica didn’t offer exactly what I needed, he went above and beyond to ensure I reached my goals. I credit him for every accolade and achievement I’ve earned.
Celeste Gessner
Anchor and producer, CBS7, Clarksburg, West Virginia
There’s a lot to be said about Professor Chanatry but a word that instantly comes to mind is inspiring. He pushed me in a way that I needed and truly helped shape me into the journalist I am today. I’ve carried his teachings well after I graduated. He’s more than earned his retirement and I’m grateful to be one of his students. Congrats Prof. Chanatry!
Shaun Kaleta ’11
Director of Economic Development for Oneida County, Whitestown Supervisor
I was recruited by Professor Chanatry to take his Broadcast Journalism course my senior year. I wasn’t a Journalism major - I was a Government and Politics major - but Professor Chanatry saw something in me that connected with the media world.
Taking Professor Chanatry’s Broadcast Journalism course - initially just for fun - was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. While I moved on from local media and public relations and now work in economic development, I’m extremely grateful for what Professor Chanatry and the media industry taught me, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Professor Chanatry always said the key to solid journalism - both television - was writing. He was right and still is! Professor Chanatry always had a sharp eye and ear and was engaging, fair and balanced. The skills he taught me will last a lifetime. I wish Professor Chanatry a great and healthy retirement; Utica University was fortunate to have a professor of his caliber for so long.
Matthew Kelly ’06
Photojournalist, WTNH-TV, New Haven, Connecticut
The extent of David’s influence in my life and career cannot be overstated. When he began his tenure at Utica, I told myself that I needed to glom onto him and enroll in every class he offered. Every professional skill - producing, videography, video editing - that I have developed rests on the foundation of visual storytelling that David taught me.
It was on a trip to Albania that truly showed how he evolved as an educator. As his production assistant filming a class of Utica College students unearthing thousand-year-old remains in the ancient city of Butrint, I learned more in those three weeks than any other time. I also look back to that time as when I really began looking at David as my mentor and my friend.
Every turn in my career, good times and bad, I have felt compelled to share my life updates with David. I was thrilled to look at my phone several months ago and find a text from David congratulating me on my engagement to my wife-to-be. His mentorship and friendship will always be cherished. His teachings will always be with me. His legacy will continue to grow.
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