Making History: Rutgers Students Attend CNN’s Live Broadcast of “Good Night, and Good Luck” with CNN Anchor Anderson Cooper

SC&I and Rutgers students were among a select group of American college students invited by CNN to one of its studios in the Hudson Yards section of Manhattan to attend CNN’s historic live broadcast of the Broadway play “Good Night, and Good Luck,” starring Tony Award nominee George Clooney. The students were also invited to attend CNN’s exclusive live special “Good Night, and Good Luck: Truth and Power,” hosted by CNN Anchor Anderson Cooper, which was broadcast live after the play.

The attendees from Rutgers were Madeline Karlicki JMS’27; Priscilla Senger JMS’25; Computer Science and Cognitive Science major Rohan Sharma; Emily Steele, JMS’26;  Classics major Maria Walsh; and SC&I Associate Dean for Programs and Professor of Journalism and Media Studies Susan Keith.

“As a Journalism and Media Studies Major with a Minor in Digital Communications, Information, and Media (DCIM), I felt that it was a great opportunity to not only educate myself on the legacy of one of America's most important figures in journalism, but also to be exposed to what it would be like to work in a news production environment,” said Steele, who received an invitation from CNN after she applied using a form sent to JMS students by Professor of Professional Practice and Director of Undergraduate Studies, Journalism and Media Studies Steve Miller. “This was especially informative due to the breaking news moment that occurred during the broadcast, and how Anderson Cooper had to adapt in order to cover the live news feed of the riots in California. It was a phenomenal learning experience and I had the honor of asking a question to the distinguished panel of journalists.” 

CNN, for the first time in Broadway history, filmed a live performance of the new play “Good Night, and Good Luck” held at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 7, 2025. Written by George Clooney and Grant Heslov, the play tells the story of CBS journalist Edward R. Murrow taking on U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy's anti-Communist crusade in the 1950s. (Clooney also produced and starred in the movie of the same name). Nominated for five Tony Awards, “Good Night, and Good Luck” was directed by Tony Award winner David Cromer and produced by Seaview, Sue Wagner, John Johnson, Jean Doumanian, and Robert Fox.

During “Good Night, and Good Luck: Truth and Power,” the panelists and Cooper, according to a CNN press release, discussed “the critically acclaimed production and state of global journalism in front of a live audience of journalism students.” 

During the panel event, “Cooper interviewed 60 Minutes Correspondent Scott Pelley about what it takes to hold those in power to account as he reflects on Edward R Murrow’s enduring legacy,” CNN said. “Cooper was joined by an all-star panel, covering a variety of media perspectives featuring CNN Anchor Abby Phillip, Univision’s Jorge Ramos, veteran CBS News anchor Connie Chung, author and journalist Walter Isaacson, New York Times Opinion Columnist Bret Stephens, and tech journalist and podcast host Kara Swisher. Cooper also spoke with Marvin Kalb, one of the last newsmen recruited by Murrow to join CBS News and a member of the generation of the ‘Murrow Boys.’” 

The students were invited to ask the panel questions ahead of time, Steele said, explaining, “Once I received an email from the producer with the invite for the event, there was a link in the email that was for a form where people could type in 3 potential questions that could be chosen. In the end, they selected 6-8 questions, but due to the breaking news in the middle, there was only time for 2 questions total. Someone asked a question at the beginning of the panel, and I got to ask my question at the end. The producer called me to ask about a potential introduction for Anderson Cooper to read before the question was asked, including how to pronounce my last name, and made it clear that questions may not be selected or may not be asked due to time constraints.”

Steele’s question was, "With the rise of misinformation and AI-generated content, how can journalists maintain credibility while remaining fast and accessible?" 

Her question was first answered by Kara Swisher, Steele said, adding, “Swisher made a point that the rise of AI-generated content is a scary idea. She brought up a few anecdotes and prior conversations she had had with other media professionals regarding the subject. The panel used the final 15 minutes of the broadcast discussing the topic and how the future of journalism will be impacted as misinformation and AI-generated content continues to grow and evolve.” 

The evening at CNN was a transformative and inspiring experience for her, Steele said. “It truly was an honor to just be in the same room as Anderson Cooper, and as a fan of theatre, it was so impactful to watch the absolute masterpiece of a performance. It was a historic moment as never before had a Broadway performance been broadcast live on TV. George Clooney's monologue at the end, which was accompanied by a montage of notable current events truly served as an exclamation point to the very important statement of the show. The experience really cemented my passion for journalism and my goal to work in news production. I am, and always have been, a storyteller, regardless of medium. It's so important for the stories to be told with integrity and I feel so privileged to have been part of this amazing opportunity.” 

Learn more about the Journalism and Media Studies major at the Rutgers School of Communication and Information on the website.

Photos: top and middle, courtesy of Susan Keith.

Top, Pictured left to right are:

• Priscilla Senger JMS’25
• Emily Steele JMS’26
• Anderson Cooper
• Madeline Karlicki JMS’27
• Computer Science and Cognitive Science major Rohan Sharma
• Classics major Maria Walsh

Middle, left to right:

• Susan Keith
• Priscilla Senger JMS’25
• Computer Science and Cognitive Science major Rohan Sharma
• Madeline Karlicki JMS’27 (front)
• Classics major Maria Walsh (back)
• Emily Steele JMS’26

The photos of Emily Steele asking her question and Swisher answering her, are courtesy of Steele, who took these still photos from a video of the part of CNN’s broadcast.