ESPNU, in collaboration with several colleges and universities from across the country, has 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;
- producing televised events on ESPNU involving their schools;
- 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 on Wed., 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, ESPN and their schools will give students constructive feedback on their performance.
“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.”
