Listen HereBy Mara Waire, WaireM@Findlay.edu
The University of Findlay UF Pulse Media provides UF students and staff with the latest news, TV and radio brought to life through the paid staff, volunteer staff and students at UF.
The UF Pulse Media transitioned to being fully digital after COVID-19 hit. This shift was not only driven by COVID alone, but the Pulse wanted to “meet students where they were,” according to Amy Rogan, Assistant Professor of Teaching in Media and Communication.
“Pulse Media is the umbrella over the newspaper, radio station and TV station”, Rogan said.
All three media entities (news, TV and radio) are unified under one. The UF Pulse has established itself as an award-winning student newspaper, receiving accolades nearly every year from the Ohio News Media Association, which recognizes the impact and quality of its reporting.
“We try to use social media a lot to promote the stories. Hopefully, students see information there,” Rogan said.
UF Pulse newspaper was the prime campus news outlet. It was originally available in print but is now published exclusively online. Students can contribute content through various classes. Media Writing and Reporting is the primary course that provides content. There are a few other upper-level courses that contribute to the newspaper as well. These courses provide students with valuable experience while serving as apparatus for future journalists.
Moving to an all-digital format has led to discussion of reviving a print edition less than its previous weekly print.
“We have kicked around the idea of doing a print edition once a semester or once a month,” Rogan said.
A junior Pharmacy student Ella Brak was unaware of the newspaper’s existence and suggests that improved outreach is essential.
“Emails and promoting it more, even if that’s through flyers. Students are more likely to pick them up if they see them,” Brak said.
The UF TV and WLFC 88.3 radio station both serve as a vital part of the UF Pulse Media providing the community with music and educational content while providing students with hands-on broadcasting experience. The radio station is a noncommercial radio station that plays music and offers student-created podcasts on its YouTube page.
UFTV provides educational and informational content, including sporting events and documentaries all managed by Jayson Geiser, an award-winning sportscaster with more than 25 years of experience.
Junior Carson Mellott emphasized the importance of eye-catching headlines and timely content. Articles highlighting updates and big announcements on campus would likely draw more attention. UF Pulse Media could try to involve the student body in deciding what they cover in various ways.
“Polls on Instagram, Twitter (X), and other social media platforms,” Mellott said. “They could create a post and have people comment on what they want to hear, read, listen to, or watch.
Encouraging the Pulse to maintain its current coverage of sports and events on campus, Mellot expressed the need for student-led content. UF TV has a podcast called “Oiler Outlook” highlighting UF Sports, led by students.
“The podcast seems to be very successful,” Mellott said.
As UF Pulse Media is the main news source on campus it seems that there are a few improvements we can make to get more students involved in regards to reading, listening, and watching Pulse Media.
