The Work of Mary Rogelstad
Journalist | Writer | Digital Marketing Specialist
Several samples of my work from the past 15 years are below. This includes blogs, scripts, news stories, press releases, videos, and graphic design examples. Please scroll to see all the categories.
Blog Writing
Below are just a few articles I wrote for J.W. Pepper & Son's Cued In blog. These posts frequently were shared on other websites.
How Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Impacted Music Education
It’s said the first thing Fred Rogers did when he returned home from emergency surgery for stomach cancer was go straight to his piano. His wife Joanne has shared with friends how much her husband loved playing that piano. His grandmother bought the nine-foot Steinway concert grand for Fred when he was only a teenager. He used that piano for the rest of his life, including when he composed songs for Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and when he played some of his favorite pieces, like Misty.
Creating Fear: How Horror Music Composers Make You Jump
Horror movies don’t just play on the minds of the audiences. They’re also a cerebral project for horror music composers like Joseph Bishara and Christopher Thomas. Bishara has composed music for the Insidious and The Conjuring franchises and Thomas for haunted amusement attractions and film productions. Both have spent hours, days, and months formulating ways to create unnerving sound tracks – a job that gives them a unique perspective on the world of fear.
How Music Helps Adults with Alzheimer's Disease
One viral video revealed the power of music in a way few other film clips could. It shows a patient suffering from severe dementia who was given headphones with his favorite music from his youth. The moment the music hits his ears, his whole being becomes visibly engaged. The incident reveals what scientists now know – that music memory is embedded in a part of the brain that is preserved even as the brain deteriorates from disease.
Creating Virtual Choir 5 for Deep Field
Voices from 120 countries unite in one of the most powerful moments in composer Eric Whitacre’s film Deep Field. After the viewer travels through the cosmos via a stunning array of Hubble Space Telescope images, the time comes to return to Earth. At that moment, 8,000 voices ring out above Whitacre’s moving orchestra music. They represent the largest group to sing in one of Whitacre’s “virtual choirs,” and many participants said they were moved to tears when they saw how the final film represented humanity.
2024 Magazine Feature
Bridging the Gap: A Solebury Alum Strives for Peace in the Middle East
It was a bright and sunny day in December 2023 when Yoav Peck chatted about his life in Jerusalem, but he called that beautiful afternoon an illusion. On one hand, his family was making plans to gather for Hanukkah - to share memorable moments that come at the best of times. But bombing sounds and daily funeral plans were a constant reminder that for millions of people in the region, it was actually the worst.
Public Relations & Publications
Here are a few examples of public relations initiatives I led for my former employers.
Video Projects
Below are some samples of video projects, including a piece on terrorism I produced for CNN, an anniversary video I produced for a social services agency, and a news piece that includes my interview about an event I publicized for charity.
