New Lab Offers Students Hands-on, High-Tech Journalism Experience
WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) today joined the National Newspaper Publishers
Association and Howard University Department of Journalism in launching the
Converged Media Lab housed at the university. The new lab combines broadcast,
print, advertising and public relations studies and provides one of the most
advanced converged journalism curricula available at a historically black
college or university.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO )
"This exciting partnership merges Howard University's journalism classroom
with the NNPA's newsroom," said George Curry, editor in chief of the NNPA's
electronic news wire service, BlackPressUSA.com. "The lab provides students
with the experience of writing for a national news outlet that reaches more
than 200 Black newspapers and 15 million readers. Students will come to the
lab to put into practice what they've learned in the classroom."
"The unlimited access to information and technology available to students
taking courses in the Converged Media Lab will enable them to realize their
full potential when they enter the work force," said Tom Broadwater, general
manager of the mid-Atlantic region at Microsoft. "Microsoft is proud to join
the NNPA and Howard in launching this high-tech learning center and in
launching the careers of many future journalists."
Microsoft provided software and more than $70,000 in cash for hardware,
technical assistance and furniture to support the Converged Media Lab. The
multimedia facility, a refurbished classroom modeled after open newsrooms,
contains broadcast monitors and 10 workstations with computers, printers,
scanners and digital graphic design equipment. Microsoft worked closely with
the NNPA and the Howard Department of Journalism to develop a lab conducive to
learning and equipped with the necessary high-tech tools to teach the
curriculum to the 367 currently enrolled journalism majors.
"We know that the convergence is occurring," said Dr. Jannette Dates, dean
of Howard University's School of Communications. "To help shape change, you
need to embrace it and try to understand and work with it. Having not only
print and broadcast journalism but also advertising and public relations as
part, an integral part, of what goes on in a truly converged atmosphere where
we have students who understand that they all are dependent upon each other
... is going to be phenomenal."
The launch included a ribbon-cutting ceremony with remarks from Dean
Dates; John "Jake" Oliver Jr., president of the National Newspaper Publishers
Association; Broadwater; and Makebra Anderson, who is majoring in journalism
at Howard and is executive editor of the student Web site
BlackCollegeView.com.
About Howard University
Howard University has served for more than 130 years as the training
ground for the nation's leaders in the fields of education, law, medicine, the
arts and journalism. As the School of Communications celebrates its 30th
anniversary, the Department of Journalism pioneers a program designed to
provide an advanced converged journalism curriculum.
About NNPA
The National Newspaper Publishers Association was founded in 1940 to bring
together publishers of African-American-owned newspapers toward the
advancement of their mutual interests and professional concerns. For over a
half century the NNPA has been the voice of the Black Press across America,
serving the media interests of Black Americans.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services
and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company
offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people
through great software -- any time, any place and on any device.
NOTE: Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the
United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the
trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.
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Related links:
http://www.microsoft.com
Photo Notes:
NewsCom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, 1-888-776-6555 or +1-212-782-2840
CONTACT:
print and online media only, Flo Pernell of
NNPA, +1-202-588-8764, or flo@nnpa.org, or Flo McAfee,
+1-202-965-2810, or flo@thecarawaygroup.com, or Allyn
Brooks-LaSure, +1-202-965-2810, or allyn@thecarawaygroup.com,
both of The Caraway Group, for Microsoft Corp.
NOTE TO EDITORS: If you are interested in viewing additional
information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft(R) Web page
at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft's corporate
information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were
correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For
additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact
Microsoft's Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts
listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.asp .
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