Less than 10 years after graduating from Newman University, alumnus Matt Riedl ’15 recently won an Emmy Award for his video storytelling.
His winning video, “Portraits of the Call,” was a labor of love with the Diocese of Lansing in Michigan that showcases multiple vocations: priestly life, consecrated life and married life. What began as an effort to refresh a 13-year-old video for the vocation team grew into a faith-filled milestone in Riedl’s life.
Riedl traveled to New York City where he met with the Sisters of Life, a community of consecrated women who serve pregnant women, offer retreats and help women who have suffered after abortion to “encounter the mercy and healing of Jesus Christ.” He also interviewed Father Dan Westermann’s discernment to the priesthood, married couple Abby and Mitchell Feldpausch’s family calling, and Theresa Marshall, who is a consecrated virgin of Christ.
“The vocations team showed it off to different school groups throughout our diocese for the past year and only last fall did they say, ‘Let’s just post this publicly for anyone to see,’” Riedl said. “Ever since it was posted, it’s gotten a lot of response.”
In June, Riedl was invited to attend the local Emmy Awards in Detroit for a nomination, thinking he would simply “walk away with a nice meal and a good time.” To his surprise, he was called on stage to accept his first Emmy Award.
“I can confidently say that I never expected that would happen,” Riedl said. “I had not planned anything in advance because none of us really expect to win awards. But I was up there, remembering all the little tips and tricks I had learned at Newman.”
A big win for Riedl, Catholic community
For Riedl, one of the most profound aspects of the Emmy win was that “it’s a totally secular ceremony.”
“It’s not the Catholic Media Association or anything like that, so it was cool to be able to share in my speech thanks to God for giving me these gifts that I can then turn around and use to help glorify the kingdom,” he said.
“Portraits of the Call” has proven to be an unexpected blessing that continues to give, Riedl said. Not only did Riedl win three prestigious global Telly Awards prior to his Emmy — one of which was awarded to “Portraits of the Call” — but also helped a young man discern his own vocational calling.
As a manager for the Diocese of Lansing’s social media, Riedl edited parts of “Portraits of the Call” to share as short-form reels on Instagram. One of the scenes he chose to share was when Westermann reflected on the mystery and power of transubstantiation during the celebration of Mass.
“A young man came into our vocations office and said he had been discerning about entering the seminary for quite a while, but just wasn’t sure until he saw this reel on Instagram,” Riedl said. “When he saw it, he said, ‘Okay, that’s the sign that God was sending me and I should at least try to discern.’ So that was really impactful to me — that something I did, my video work helped someone have the courage to take that next step.”
Developing the art of storytelling as a career
Riedl began his career as a full-time journalist for The Wichita Eagle as a senior at Newman University, but eventually transitioned to a videographer role with the Catholic Diocese of Arlington in Virginia. There, he won the Producer of the Year Award and was named a second-place finisher for the Cardinal John P. Foley Award with the Catholic Media Association in 2021.
“Video was very new to me, but I’ve loved learning it. It has been very affirming and uplifting,” Riedl said. “Let that be encouragement to anyone that you can pivot yourself and learn new skills as long as you have a solid basis.”
Riedl credits Newman University for the fundamental skills to adapt to any career.
“People have asked me, ‘Should I go to film school if I want to do what you do?’ I tell them I trained in the art of storytelling and communication. I tell them I think they should do journalism, frankly, because it teaches you to have empathy for people. Listening is so much more important than speaking. It teaches you to look in another person’s eyes and see their story — to try and put yourself in their shoes.”
Rooted in faith
Riedl will always remember the impact adjunct professor and Wichita Eagle reporter Denise Neil had on helping him develop as a storyteller through The Vantage student newspaper.
“She has become really a lifelong mentor to me,” Riedl said.
He is also grateful to Director of Music Deanne Zogleman for teaching him the value of music, which has been instrumental to his video storytelling success.
“I think the value of scoring is so underrated in videography and cinematography,” Riedl said. “I agonize over the score for these videos. It takes me a long time to figure out the music that sets the tone for each scene and has the proper ebbs and flows to really compliment the story.”
From the time Riedl was a child listening to his father’s stories of his days serving in the Army to present day, he has always had an appreciation for stories.
In Riedl’s words, “It’s been a gradual unfolding of interest. We are a story-based world, and no matter how different we may think we are, we’re all intrinsically very similar and we’re all God’s children.
“We all have different perspectives and viewpoints on the world, and storytelling helps us to break down those walls and realize that, ‘Hey, you’re not so different than I, and you have valuable insights.’”
Riedl believes storytelling is a powerful tool that showcases the commonality every human shares — and gives glory where it is due.
“We are empty vessels, broken and flawed. But when we open ourselves and allow ourselves to be used by the Lord for the work he wants us to do, there are so many things we can achieve.”
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