Putting the “multi” in multimedia journalism
Putting the “multi” in multimedia journalism
A collaborative initiative between the faculty and staff of the Communication department and student journalists has resulted in Jambar TV, an online student-run news program launched Fall 2019 semester.
Rachel Gobep and Alyssa Weston, senior Journalism majors, are part of the student team that is the driving force behind Jambar TV. Gobep serves as editor-in-chief of The Jambar student newspaper and also an anchor for Jambar TV. Weston is the managing editor for The Jambar and executive producer of Jambar TV.
“To become editor-in-chief of The Jambar, you have to put together a proposal, and you have to make a business plan,” said Gobep. “Within my business plan, I proposed starting something called The Jambar news show, which then transformed into Jambar TV. We need to be able to tell stories in different ways.”
And the timing was just right. Departmental plans to create an added opportunity for students were already underway. In early 2019, Amy Crawford, professor of Communication, was named electronic media advisor.
“When Dave Davis (a fellow in the YSU Journalism program) and I put forth the broadcast and electronic media curriculum in 2017, we knew we had to work with students to create a news show that would showcase student work,” said Mary Beth Earnheardt, director of Journalism. “We had heard for years from alumni that we needed both the track and the accompanying TV show.”
Jambar TV, a weekly program on YouTube and thejambar.com, features news, arts and entertainment, interview segments and sports content to showcase the connections made at YSU and throughout the city of Youngstown. Print reporters for The Jambar also create the video elements for Jambar TV.
“The whole idea of that partnership is so there isn't competition, there's only collaboration,” said Gobep. “With that, each journalist that leaves The Jambar will be a multimedia journalist, because they'll know how to shoot their own video, but also write a print story and sometimes take a picture.”
The new program launched in August and has included interviews with guests such as YSU President Jim Tressel, Ron Jaworski and Vera Herbert from “This is Us.”
“The opportunity to give students a wider look at who comes to campus has really helped us as student journalists to gain experience dealing with high profile guests,” said Weston.
Jambar TV is open to students from all majors, but Telecommunication Studies and Journalism majors gain experience that may help prepare them for their professions. TCOM students who have experience with video have the opportunity to get practice writing news stories, and journalism students are able to learn how to tell their stories through video.
“Sometimes it’s like herding cats, but all these students work together as a team to produce a high-quality product. Everyone contributes,” said Earnheardt.
A total of 42 students work in student media, which includes The Jambar, Jambar TV, Penguin Review, Rookery Radio and Penguin Rundown. Many students have roles across both print and television.
“At the end of the day, we hope that in a couple years, the show looks a million times better. I think that's our goal,” said Gobep. “Our goal was to build the foundation, but we want people to exceed any expectation when it comes to how the show looks in the future.”
Editor’s Note: It was recently announced that Jambar TV, in its inaugural year, earned first place in the Television News Show Overall Excellence category and two student reporters and a photographer took home first place prizes in the national Society of Collegiate Journalists contest. In all, YSU student media won 17 awards. SCJ is the nation’s oldest honor society for leaders in student media and has approximately 100 active chapters and 1,200 members.