Journalism school, Kansas Union open new interactive multimedia center


LAWRENCE — Media Crossroads, an interactive multimedia center and joint project with the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications and the Kansas Union, opened Saturday. The University of Kansas football game against Texas Christian University was the first media experience of this new venture of the School, the Union and campus media.

Media Crossroads visitors can create their own media, watch media productions and foster an environment of shared ideas. The new center invites and encourages people to tell their stories in audio, video and online formats.

Scott Reinardy, journalism school associate professor and interim director, said Media Crossroads is a catalyst for ideas and conversations open to the public.

"Media Crossroads is not a media cafe where people stop in to update their Facebook pages or a media center where only journalists tell stories," Reinardy said. "Crossroads is a marketplace of shared ideas and innovative storytelling. And it is open to all."

Media Crossroads is equipped with a state-of-the-art television studio where live events will be broadcast on KUJH-TV, the university's student-operated station. KUJH-TV is currently available on Knology Cable channel 31, KU's ResNet Cable channel 31 and AT&T U-Verse channel 99 in the Lawrence and Kansas City areas. The University Daily Kansan also will report live from the space.

"We are excited about the experiment that Media Crossroads represents," said Dean Ann M. Brill. "We in journalism education must explore new ideas for presenting stories and interacting with our many different types of audience. We hope both KU and Lawrence join us in creating media in this great location at the Kansas Union."

KU's student-operated radio station, KJHK, also will host events and live broadcast programs from Media Crossroads. KJHK hosted the inaugural event in Media Crossroads by airing its pre-game football program from the site prior to the KU-TCU game.

David Mucci, director, KU Memorial Unions, hopes Media Crossroads will provide students and the community a chance to participate in the changing face of media.

"This innovative journalism venture offers students at KU a unique opportunity to engage with, and report on, the campus community. Media Crossroads will give students the tools and experiences necessary to succeed in a wildly evolving media environment. It also offers the campus a community news resource as traditional, local options decline," said Mucci. "We are thrilled to have this innovative endeavor in the Kansas Union; the site will literally place the activities, events and personalities that comprise KU before the lens, microphones and keyboards of student journalists."

Media Crossroads is located on the fourth floor of the Kansas Union. For more information, contact Reinardy by email.


Tue, 09/18/2012

author

Natasha Veeser

Media Contacts

Natasha Veeser

William Allen White School of Journalism & Mass Communications

785-864-7644