By Gabriella Gomperts, Features Editor
The latest media outlet at YU does not observe, does not comment, it just reports from an outside perspective. The Outsider, a new student-led broadcast channel covering notable events at YU, has officially aired its first few episodes for the public, bringing YU news and entertaining content to the student body in a different format. The show also provides participating students with the opportunity to engage with and create news style media through video.
Executive Director and Producer Nechama Grinspan (SCW ‘25) started The Outsider as a way to combat the lack of media related opportunities at YU. “I found that there were very few outlets for media students, people who want to go into actual film production like I do, or people who want to go into video editing or writing,” she told the YU Observer. “I wanted to give myself and others that opportunity and experience, and I also thought it would be a really fun experience.”
Grinspan usually directs and films every episode, while the four current pairs of rotating co-anchors both host and edit the show each week. This team, which is also looking for students to join the behind the scenes crew next semester, enjoys working together on this project.
Grinspan or the substitute director and cameraman and the two co-anchors brainstorm the show’s content throughout the week before meeting on Sunday. The co-anchors who host each episode are typically given the creative freedom to design the program. Filming takes place in the digital media studio on the Wilf Campus, and the footage is then edited and posted to YouTube on Monday.
Because they release content frequently, The Outsider aims to cover inconsequential yet relevant events happening on both the Beren and Wilf campuses, as well as political and global current events. The anchors frequently banter with each other, making quips and jokes on what they’re reporting.
Rotating anchor Nissim Farhy (YC ‘26) has really enjoyed helping create the Outsider. “I joined the Outsider to help start something new,” he told the YU Observer. “To change the status quo and provide a new medium for students to engage with both fellow students and faculty.”
Farhy’s favorite part of producing the show is working with the cast and crew. “Producing each episode is honestly a blast with such a wonderful group,” he said.
Another rotating anchor Brandon Melamed (YC ‘25) appreciates having the ability to create media content. “I wanted to join The YU Outsider because I like to take advantage of Jewish-media related opportunities and this seemed like a really fun thing to do,” he told the YU Observer.
Melamed also enjoys contributing creatively to the media space at YU. “My favorite part about being a part of The YU Outsider is to express myself in a fun way with friends and that is beneficial to the YU community.”
Overall, the feedback from students has been positive. “It’s really great to hear that people are enjoying it and having opinions,” Grinspan said.
Viewers like Aliza Gans (SCW ‘27) enjoy watching the Outsider. “The Outsider is a lot of fun to watch and hear [about] events for the week, as well as some other fun YU things featured in the video,” Aliza Gans (SCW ‘27), an avid watcher of The Outsider, told the YU Observer.
For Grinspan, the goal of The Outsider is to inform and entertain, but creating the show with her team is the most fulfilling part. “My favorite thing about producing the show is honestly the group of people that I’m working with,” she said. “They’re all so fun and energetic and lively and everyone wants to be there, we have a great time making it.”
Photo Caption: Anchors on the set of The Outsider
Photo Credit: The Outsider