ESPNU launches Campus Connections

ESPNU, in
collaboration with several colleges and universities from across the country,
today formally launched a new student-run initiative called “ESPNU Campus
Connection.” Working with students, professors and athletic departments,
the new ESPNU initiative incorporates student-generated content across multiple
ESPN platforms. Some examples include students announcing games
(play-by-play announcer and analyst), sideline reporting and producing
televised events on ESPNU involving their schools, as well as contributing
special segments and feature stories for other ESPN networks (ESPN, ESPN2,
ESPN360.com, etc.) and writing articles for ESPN The Magazine and
ESPN.com.

The list
of schools participating thus far include Florida State University, Georgetown
University, University of Georgia, University of Missouri, University of North
Carolina (Chapel Hill), Ohio University, Pepperdine University, Syracuse
University, University of Tennessee, University of Texas (Austin) and
Texas Southern University. ESPNU plans to have at least 20 schools
participate in the initial year of the program.

The
UNC-Asheville at UNC men’s basketball game will be the first major assignment
involving ESPNU Campus Connection students Wednesday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. ET on
ESPNU. Students from the

University
of
North Carolina will
serve in a variety of production roles, potentially including the
responsibilities of game producer, play-by-play announcer or game analyst and
sideline reporter. In some instances, following assignments, students
will be given constructive feedback on their performance by ESPN and their
schools.

“ESPNU
Campus Connection will offer sports fans a unique perspective from a college
student’s point-of-view, bringing them closer to the on-campus experience,”
said Burke Magnus, vice president and general manager, ESPNU. “This
initiative will give each participant an opportunity to gain invaluable
professional experience through various ESPN multimedia services, which will
shape some of the future reporters, writers and producers of the sports media
world.”

Earlier
this college sports season, ESPNU showcased some student-driven segments
(sideline reports and school news updates) in its college football game
telecasts and during SportsCenterU, its daily news and highlights show.

To view a video clip of Campus Connection students from
Florida
State
and

Syracuse in
action, please click here or visit www.espnmediazone.com – click on
“Video-Multimedia” and select “ESPNU Campus Connection.”

“The ESPNU
Campus Connection initiative has been a great program for us at
Florida
State

University to be a part of,” said Mark
Rodin, a Technical Director at Seminoles Productions,

Florida
State

University. “It
gives our students an opportunity to get their work on a national sports
network, which will surely help them in the marketplace. Knowing they
have a shot at being on ESPN makes them work a little harder, challenges their
creativity a little more and enhances their overall educational experience.”

Added UNC
communications professor C.A. Tuggle: “As educators, we try to give our
students experiences that closely mirror what they’ll face as professionals.
It doesn’t get any more ‘real world’ than working on a game broadcast
with ESPN.” Our students will face all the pressures of live
production, as well as reap the rewards associated with doing a good job on a
broadcast seen by millions of people.”