UF TV, radio stations hold first open house for all journalism, communication students
GAINESVILLE, Fla.— It’s a first, and it promises new educational and professional opportunities for University of Florida advertising, journalism, public relations and telecommunication majors. The university’s broadcast stations will hold an open house from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 10 for all College of Journalism and Communications students.
In past years, about 200 students annually filled such positions as anchoring “WUFT-TV News” and hosting “Morning Edition” on WUFT/WJUF-FM. The majority of them were telecommunication majors. The stations’ recent consolidation into a new Division of Multimedia Properties expands these and other opportunities to all communication students.
“We’re trying to encourage more student involvement,” said Rob Carr, the college’s director of engineering and IT and chairman of the open house committee. “It will help them step into the future. These are real-world stations; they deliver a product every day, and more students can be a part of it.”
The opportunities at WUFT-TV, WUFT/WJUF-FM and WRUF-AM/FM include internships, volunteer work and, pending funding, paid positions, Carr said.
“This presents a great opportunity for our students as our media consolidation more closely aligns the stations with the college’s teaching and research missions,” Dean John Wright said. “Since the stations will play a significant role in the college’s emerging Center for Media Innovation and Research, the open house also gives our students a sneak peek into that vital project.”
The starting point for the open house, which features station tours, pizza and soft drinks, is outside the main entrance to Weimer Hall’s Flanagan Wing, where the students can pick up information sheets. They can also visit www.jou.ufl.edu/openhouse. The committee expects a turnout of about 300 students.