UOWTV – Covering Your University & Community

Journalism students research and present bulletins for the UOWtv television channel, which is part of the UOWnow website and digital communications and signage network that has been set up across the campus since the beginning of the 2010 Autumn Session.

Journalism students (from left) Andrew Moon, Emma Dunn, Andrew Gardner and Natassia Apolloni have been filming news and events on campus for UOWtv

UOWtv television bulletins are broadcast on screens outside the library and McKinnon building and on screens across the main campus, Innovation Campus and university residences. The bulletins can also be accessed online

The screens around campus also display events, news updates, and community messages, and displays outside carparks tell drivers the number of available spaces in carparks, as part of UOW’s new digital signage network. They aim to make it easier for students and staff to find out about activities and events happening across the University.

“Throughout the year, UOW provides an amazing diversity of intellectual, recreational and cultural activities – on campus and off,” Vice Principal (Administration) Chris Grange said. “However, discovering this information has sometimes been a challenge in the past.”

Along with the new screens, a new website called UOWnow, has been created so that all staff and students can submit their own university events to be broadcast. “Now university events, activities, recorded lectures, newsletters and connections to social networks are all available in one spot,” Mr Grange said. “In addition, UOWnow is home to UOWtv, an exciting undertaking with the School of Journalism that creates a new portal to video production at UOW.”

Journalism students are developing their news broadcast skills by creating weekly updates and news stories about what’s happening on campus. Journalism lecturer Shawn Burns said the opportunity to give students practical experience on real projects was invaluable.

“Media organisations tell us they want graduates who can ‘hit the ground running’. This kind of experience, where students learn interviewing and presenting skills then actually see their work broadcast, gives them the chance to learn by doing instead of being told how it is done.

“It is a great innovation, and the students are really enthusiastic about it.”

Natassia Apolloni presented the UOWtv bulletin during O-Week and said she enjoyed the chance to practice her reporting skills. “I was able to interview comedian Wil Anderson who has performing during O-Week. He was an interesting character to interview and this was good practice (interviewing celebrities),” she said.

Journalism student Andrew Moon has also been helping to produce the news bulletins and said he thinks this practical experience will help him get a job. “Employers are looking for graduates with practical skills so this makes me feel more confident about getting a job when I graduate,” he said.

Text and image courtesy of UOW Media Unit