BU Now is an independent college blog/newsite that celebrates its 2nd year in April 2010. This presentation at College Media Advisors 2010 Convention in New York City in March 2010 summarizes BU Now's progress while addressing challenges from academic department, communication faculty and campus media.

1. FLYING SOLO: Epitath or Epiphany
BU NOW : of NEW Student Website
COLLEGE MEDIA CONFERENCE
National Convention: NYC, SPRING 2010
DR. RICHARD GANAHL
Bloomsburg University, PA

2. TRULY UNIQUE: An Indie Campus News Blog
* Anyone Posts * Multi-Platform
* Comments * Calendar
* Student Ed’s * Coop w/ Media
* Polls * Videos
* Podcasts * Slideshows
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3. ‘.…anyone, anything, anyhow, anytime….’
BU NOW: MISSION EXTREME COMPETITION
* Student Organization *Town Student Website
* Indie Blog & Website * BU Comm Office: 10 stds
* Co-op & Con-verge * Campus Weekly: 17 stds
* Student Moderated * Campus Radio: 16 stds
* Multiple Platforms * Department Mag: 20 stds
* Pics, Audio, Video * Department TV: 20 stds
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4. BU NOW: Happy Second Birthday To You!
BU NOW: TRAFFIC BU NOW: STAFF
* 70,229 visitors / 22 mo * 520 registered users
* visits from 123 countries * 160 story contributors
* 157,795 page views * two faculty advisors
* 43,474 unique visitors * multiple departments
* over 16,267 video views * 637 posts, 499 comments
* top 5 stories = 31,615 hits * Facebook & Twitter
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7. Multi Media, Multi Platform Excellence
HOMECOMING 2009 BLOCK PARTY 2009
* 9 stories w/ 13,371 hits * 10 stories w/ 10,811 hits
* combined 3 media efforts * combined 4 media efforts
* 3 videos, 2 op-eds & pics * 4 vids, gonzo-j, op-ed, pic
* broke 23 pg Final Report * Forum: Mayor, C of P, BU
* Homecoming Forum Tags * extensive use of link-j
* Homecoming Dance Tags * Block Party Story Tags
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8. BU NOW FUTURE: Epitath or Epiphany?
E-INTERVIEWS ITEMS SAMPLE SELECTION
1. What is convergence? 1. Students Media Leaders
2. Initial BN expectations? 2. Faculty/Staff Media Adv
3. Did media help/hinder? 3. Open end email Feb 2010
4. What has help/hinder? 4. Sample size = 23 of 26
5. In 5 years BN will…? 5. Names & depts deleted
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9. BU NOW FUTURE: E-Survey Findings
WHAT = CONVERGENCE INITIAL EXPECTATIONS
1. media working together 1. had NO idea what it was
2. quality multimedia J 2. risky and take long time
3. collaborative confed’tion 3. concerned @ competition
4. multiple media exper’nce 4. good things = to happen
5. hubbed media integr’tion 5. didn’t expect such growth
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10. BU NOW FUTURE: Media Influences
MEDIA = HELP MEDIA = HINDRANCE
1. we worked through it 1. tension and conflict
2. cross platform portfolio 2. very possessive of staff
3. compliment not rival 3. good vibes gone sour
4. BN = partnered & coop’d 4. fearful, power struggle
5. BN = provided paper tab 5. territorial & defensive
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11. BU NOW FUTURE: Factor Influences
FACTORS = HELPED FACTORS = HINDRANCE
1. dedicated staff, advisors 1. no department support
2. tech & server support 2. territorial, feuding faculty
3. $$ for media conference 3. technological ignorance
4. range of student interest 4. lack of university respect
5. BN’s innovative spirit 5. small # of talented folks
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12. BU NOW FUTURE: In Five Years BN Will
SUGGESTIONS IN 5 YEARS BN WILL
1. BN NEEDS office space 1. our future = unimaginable
2. merge paper & BU Now 2. take on investigative J!
3. develop ad revenue 3. more media convergence
4. break media walls down 4. every students’ homepage
5. open faculty minds 5. multi-billion dollar site!
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13. ‘.…anyone, anything, anyhow, anytime….’
* BU Now video * James’ Reviews
* BN Slideshow * VOICE Stories
* Election 2008
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