Web Stained Wretch

College media lagging behind

August 20th, 2007

According to a new study, 91 percent of college newspapers have an online presence.  I’ve gotta say, this seems like a low number, given the immediacy of the Web, the online culture of college students, and the ease in which an online presence can be created.  Other mediums are much worse off: “36.3 percent for radio stations, 20.9 percent for television stations, 18.1 percent for magazines and 6 percent for yearbooks,” according to the study, conducted by researchers at James Madison University.

It’s fascinating to see how behind some of these outlets are (though, honestly, I’ve never heard of an online yearbook).  

One of the things that attracted me to KU is its focus on multimedia.  The University Daily Kansan has a great site, complete with RSS delivery, blogs and other community-oriented features.  The local TV station, KUJH, brings the station to the people on the Internets; it includes podcasts and its own blog.  Radio outlet KJHK (K-Jayhawk, get it? Yuck, yuck) streams online, though doesn’t break many barriers in its presentation or sevice. 

I’ve only been here a week, so my experience is limited, but I can say that the media presence on campus trumps that of my beloved alma mater, Miami University.  Granted, I was in Oxford a lifetime ago (sometimes it seems), but the Miami Student’s online presence is limited; I’ve long thought on OxBlog was in order…c’mon, it’s creative.  MUTV, the student-run television station, has a deplorable site, but WMUB, the student-run NPR station, has a decent presence on the Web.

I’m told that Miami is increasing its emphasis on journalism.  I hope so, especially since they’ve torn down Reid Hall , my freshman year home and named after Whitelaw Reid, who also founded the Miami chapter of my fraternity, Delta Kappa Epsilon (speaking of a weak Web presence).  Reid, of course (?), was a famous journalist in his time, reporting from Gettysburg and later was the publisher of the New York Herald-Tribune.

Still, when you think about it, these “new” formats — blogging, podcasting, multimedia platforms — are essential.  I don’t think college publications are hurting for readers or advertisers; college media is not facing the same problems as its professional counterparts (I don’t think; might make an interesting case study), so a robust Web presence is not an immediate concern.

In terms of media, it’s not a huge concern.  But in terms of looking like the top tier educational outlet a university may claim to be, it’s a terriffic concern.  Imagine a university without a Web site , or with a site that looks like it’s a Geocities production.  You earn zero credibility.  It’s just like companies that don’t have Web sites, like those I used to find on CareerBuilder looking for sports-minded players…those companies that had you tag along a sales associate as they trudge through suburban strip malls, hawking phone plans.  S-H-A-D-Y.

“Why do I need to learn video?”

The study also says that a lot of young college journos decide their path in high school, shunning the emergence of new media.  Like, duh.  OMFG, say other bloggers.  Kids, you’re sounding stodgy.  Aren’t these young kids supposed to be up on all these new-fangled things?  Video, audio, slideshows…these things make our product more robust, more “readable” and just plain better.  Get with the program.  I know I am.

Entry Filed under: KU, editoral, Blogging, business, j-school, academics, design, Miami University, The Internets, media criticism