The partnership will feature collaboration and resource sharing between the new Mark Cuban Center, the National Sports Journalism Center, the Media School’s technology team and resources, and student media and interest groups.
The Media School, inaugurated in October 2014, merged IU’s journalism and telecommunications departments, placing both in Franklin Hall.
The Mark Cuban Center, which will be housed in the west side of Assembly Hall, was established in June, after a $5 million grant from IU alumnus Mark Cuban. After renovations to Assembly Hall finish in the spring of 2017, the Cuban Center will offer advancements in technology, such as virtual reality technology, 3-D technology and other media-related technology.
The NSJC, which was established in Bloomington in 2009, relocated from IU-Purdue University Indianapolis’ campus to IU’s campus in September and will be housed in the Media School when the school opens in 2016.
“Our goal at Indiana University is to build a world-class sports media program,” NSJC Director and IU associate sports journalism professor Galen Clavio said in a Media School press release in September. “The National Sports Journalism Center is a key part of that vision, and we will use the resources and connections of the center to provide the highest quality experience for students studying sports media at IU.”
The partnership was created in an effort to develop open sources for IU sports media students and provide career experiences that will prepare students for sports media careers.
“Helping to provide real-world opportunities for the many talented students of the Media School is consistent with one of our top priorities to be integrated with the broader university,” IU Athletics Director Fred Glass said in a press release. “We cannot thank (Media School Dean) James Shanahan and the Media School enough for helping make this historic and unique partnership possible.”
Clavio said the opportunities offered to sports journalism students through the partnership will help students adjust to changes in the field.
“Students in sports media are as likely to be applying for jobs with college athletic departments, professional franchises or entities like NFL Network and MLBTV as they are with traditional media outlets, like local television stations and newspapers,” Clavio said. “This partnership helps to give students valuable experience in media areas that don’t fall under traditional journalism, and it’s a great fit alongside the wonderful student journalism opportunities already on the Bloomington campus.”
Taylor Lehman
