Master's Thesis Project Sex Work After Gilgo Passes with Distinction

Sex Work After Gilgo began in a graduate radio features production course in the Spring 2021 semester at Hofstra University with Vice Dean and Professor Mario Murillo.

In the following semester, Fall 2021, long after the course was over, Alexandra Whitbeck began developing this project further through her Master’s Thesis project. As it grew into a three part audio series and was eventually nearing completion, it was set to be judged by a board of Hofstra University professors and administrators. This panel consisted of; Carol Fletcher (Journalism professor, served 10+ years on the board), Mario Gonzalez (Journalism professor), Peter Goodman (Journalism professor, former BA/MA program director) and Christopher Vacarro (Director of the MA Journalism Program).

After deliberation (as well as listening to the project prior), all board members agreed this project passed with distinction / honors. It was deemed ‘one of the best project’s we’ve seen in years’ and applauded by each.

This series stands as the first all audio thesis project presented to the board and will serve as model for students looking to pursue an audio based thesis in the future.