Rate My Professor Peter Jaroff

Peter Jaroff served as Assistant Professor of Practice in the Department of Media Studies and Production at Temple University's Klein College of Media and Communication, where he also held the position of Faculty Executive Producer of Temple Update for more than 18 years, retiring at the end of the Fall 2025 semester. Prior to his academic career, Jaroff accumulated extensive professional experience in broadcast journalism, spending 25 years as a news producer at 6ABC, Philadelphia's ABC affiliate, and three subsequent years as an editor at KYW Newsradio. He brought this industry expertise to Temple University, initially contributing as an adjunct faculty member while at KYW, before fully committing to teaching and production roles. Under Jaroff's leadership, Temple Update—a student-produced weekly newscast aired on Temple University Television—transformed into a fully operational professional newsroom. He produced 390 episodes over his tenure, instilling high production values, rigorous editorial standards, and a culture of accountability that set the program apart.

Jaroff's contributions extended far beyond production, profoundly shaping the skills and careers of thousands of students through hands-on experiential learning. He trained them in core broadcast practices, including pitching stories, interviewing sources, writing on tight deadlines, and crafting broadcast packages that met professional standards. His approach emphasized direct, detailed feedback to drive improvement, while fostering student confidence, discipline, work ethic, and a strong sense of community. Jaroff also guided students in career development, securing internships, and navigating professional networks, directly contributing to the success of alumni now working as reporters, anchors, producers, and editors at prominent outlets such as Good Morning America. Colleagues like Kristina Hammerschmidt, KLN ’12 and assistant professor of practice, highlighted his patience, precision, humor, and deep commitment to students, noting that his legacy lies in the lives and careers he influenced. Nic Uff, KLN ’22 and segment producer at Good Morning America, credited Jaroff with opening doors for countless students. Through these efforts, Jaroff elevated the Klein College's national profile and established enduring standards for student media training at Temple Update.