UAFS relaunches student media program
by October 28, 2009 4:20 pm 95 views
A proposed three-year plan to restart a student media program at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith was unveiled Wednesday (Oct. 28) to representatives of Fort Smith area media outlets.
The last issue of a student newspaper at what is now UAFS was 2003, and the last yearbook was published in 2003.
Dr. Joe Hardin, dean of the College of Languages and Communications, told the group that in addition to producing graduates who can communicate, he hoped student voices “will become an integral part” of regional media.
Community media groups who have agreed to work with UAFS in reforming a student media program include 5 Star Productions, eFortSmith, KFSM-TV 5, Pharis Broadcasting, The City Wire, Times Record, and Williams-Crawford & Associates.
Other long-term goals mentioned by Hardin were:
• The College of Languages and Communications (CLC) and UAFS will produce the best communications graduates in the region;
• CLC will help situate Fort Smith, the region, and UAFS for the future; and
• CLC will emphasize the connections between UAFS and Fort Smith.
Assisting Hardin the effort are Dr. Melissa Whiting, chair of English, and Dr. Monica Luebke, director of Writing and Rhetoric.
Hardin said many questions remain about the format of the program, including how a program will divide focus between print and digital journalism. The other question is how soon UAFS will be able to offer a journalism-equivalent degree.
One question resolved is the name of the new student media publication: The Lion’s Chronicle.
The publication is slated for a December online launch, Hardin said. Subjects planned for the December Web publication include the future of UAFS, parking, religion on campus, Student Senate report, child care, NCAA Division II status, and student profiles.
Other actions taken in 2009 to revive a student media curriculum include beginning a speech minor, searching for communication faculty and reaching out to the community.
Actions planned for 2010, Hardin said, include reviving a communication internship program, streaming radio, reaching out to area high school journalism programs and providing content for local media outlets.
By 2011, Hardin hopes to have established a “state-of-the-art media laboratory,” and a possible endowed professorship in one or more of the many aspects of media and communications.