The Daily Universe Reporting on BYU’s Global Footprint

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Prof. Edward L Carter and Dr. Quint Randle, Communications

Evaluation of how well the academic objectives of the proposal were met

Our purpose was to enable journalism students to report on the international activities of BYU students, faculty and staff, specifically as it relates to performing arts groups but also sports and other areas. We feel like this purpose was accomplished. We learned much about BYU’s national and international activities, and journalism students participating in the grant were able to convey these activities through print, visual and multimedia journalism connected to the Universe newspaper and website.

Evaluation of the mentoring environment

The mentoring environment worked extremely well, perhaps even better than we anticipated. Having a journalism faculty member (either Professor Carter or Dr. Randle) on each trip was key. We were able to talk to journalism students before, during and after their reporting and writing efforts. One student remarked that a mentoring trip to California was the most effective teaching he had experienced in the entire journalism program at BYU. At one point students were covering the BYU national championship volleyball match live from Pauley Pavilion, and Dr. Randle and Professor Carter were editing stories and photos to push live immediately on the Universe website. This demonstrated the potential for online and multimedia journalism to be immediate and relevant.

We also had great support from the Universe staff (both students and professionals) who remained in the newsroom in Provo. This was key to getting the material published. On the central Europe trip in 2011, a reporting student and photography student sent materials back to Provo that were published even as the trip was still going. This provided timely coverage for the newsroom lab and thus served our audience well.

List of students who participated and what academic deliverables they have produced or it is anticipated they will produce

Trip to San Francisco to visit West Coast Conference campuses: Professor Carter with undergraduate journalism students Court Mann, Michael Richardson, Tessa Farnsworth and student photographer Carolyn Carter. News articles published:

  • “All religions accepted at Santa Clara University,” Daily Universe, June 20, 2011 (http://newsnet.byu.edu/pdf/du20110620.pdf)
  • “Santa Clara library assisted by giant robots,” Daily Universe, June 20, 2011 (http://newsnet.byu.edu/pdf/du20110620.pdf)
  • “Similarities evident between BYU, St. Mary’s of California,” Daily Universe, June 21, 2011 (http://newsnet.byu.edu/pdf/du20110621.pdf)
  • “Service a staple of life at University of San Francisco,” Daily Universe, June 22, 2011 (http://newsnet.byu.edu/pdf/du20110622.pdf)
  • “USF receives an A- when it comes to compost,” Daily Universe, June 22, 2011 (http://newsnet.byu.edu/pdf/du20110622.pdf)
  • “Father Privett: BYU in WCC a ‘win-win deal,’” Daily Universe, June 22, 2011 (http://newsnet.byu.edu/pdf/du20110622.pdf)

Trip to Atlanta to cover Young Ambassadors: Dr. Randle with undergraduate journalism students Paige Guthrie, Katie Barlow and Kayla Franson

Trip to Vienna, Budapest and Prague to cover International Folk Dance trip plus BYU Study Abroad in Vienna: Professor Carter with student photographer Stephanie Rhodes and undergraduate journalism student Whitney Evans. News articles published:

  • “Dance the night away: BYU folk dancers learn from Hungarians,” Daily Universe, June 20, 2011 (http://newsnet.byu.edu/pdf/du20110620.pdf)
  • “Dance the night away: Folk band enjoying European tour,” Daily Universe, June 20, 2011 (http://newsnet.byu.edu/pdf/du20110620.pdf)
  • “Hope for Hungary,” Daily Universe, June 21, 2011 (http://newsnet.byu.edu/pdf/du20110621.pdf)
  • “BYU students shine as ambassadors of good will,” Daily Universe, June 21, 2011 (http://newsnet.byu.edu/pdf/du20110621.pdf)
  • “Vienna education: BYU students begin ‘different’ study abroad program amidst artcentric culture,” Daily Universe, June 22, 2011 (http://newsnet.byu.edu/pdf/du20110622.pdf)

Trip to Mississippi to cover BYU-Mississippi football game: Professor Carter with undergraduate journalism student Dallin Turner and student photographer Luke Hansen

  • “Going ‘Groving’: Ole Miss sets tailgating standard,” Daily Universe, September 6, 2011 (http://newsnet.byu.edu/pdf/du20110906.pdf)
  • “Fans pack football fireside,” Daily Universe, September 6, 2011 (http://newsnet.byu.edu/pdf/du20110906.pdf)

Trip to Hollywood to cover BYU graduates in Hollywood: Dr. Randle with undergraduate journalism students Charles Beacham and Jeff Finley

  • “BYU grads make waves in Hollywood,” Universe, January 22, 2013 (http://nn.byu.edu/pdf/du20130122.pdf)
  • “Ethics in the entertainment business,” Universe, January 22, 2013 (http://nn.byu.edu/pdf/du20130122.pdf)

Trip to Los Angeles to cover BYU men’s volleyball championship match: Dr. Randle and Professor Carter with undergraduate journalism students Trent Christiansen and Justin Green and student photographer Elliott Miller

  • “BYU volleyball falls short in championship match,” Universe, May 7-13, 2013 (http://nn.byu.edu/pdf/du20130507.pdf)
  • Several updates and articles also online about the match at universe.byu.edu.

Trip to South Bend, Ind., to cover BYU-Notre Dame game and BYU fireside as well as Catholic- Mormon issues: Professor Carter with undergraduate students Matt Shipley (funded by a Laycock Center Grant in the College of Fine Arts and Communications), Ben Lockhart and student photographer Sara Hill

  • “Learn from Notre Dame and see football as building community,” Universe, November 26, 2013 (http://universe.byu.edu/2013/11/24/learn-from-notre-dame-and-see-football-as-buildingcommunity/)
  • “Notre Dame legend Rudy Ruettiger meets and greets at BYU football fireside,” Digital Universe, Nov. 23, 2013, http://universe.byu.edu/2013/11/23/notre-dame-legend-rudyruettiger- meets-and-greets-at-byu-football-fireside/
  • “Panel at Notre Dame discusses role of religion in Romney campaign,” publication pending at Digital Universe, universe.byu.edu

Description of the results/findings of the project

We have learned that mentoring journalism students on trips out of town provides many excellent teaching opportunities. This kind of mentoring can enhance and even surpass what we can do in the classroom and the newsroom lab. There are some logistical obstacles but involving students in those issues can also be part of the learning experience for journalism.

We have also learned that covering BYU effectively from a journalistic standpoint is complicated because of the large number and sophisticated nature of activities. There are many projects and activities worthy of coverage. We have a challenge to try to serve the Universe audience in a comprehensive way. So grants and efforts like this one are key to trying to do that more effectively.

There is a challenge in this particular mentoring environment given the high turnover rate among journalism students and staff at the Universe. The staff essentially starts from scratch each semester. But that also provides an opportunity for us to teach and mentor many students.

Description of how the budget was spent

Travel to San Francisco (car rental, hotel, food) $1,730.42
Travel to Atlanta (airfare, hotel, food) $2,984.71
Travel to Vienna, Budapest and Prague (airfare, Hotel, food) $8,278.95
Travel to Mississippi (airfare, hotel, food) $1,287.71
Travel to Hollywood (car rental, hotel, food) $1,645.43
Travel to Los Angeles (car rental, hotel, food) $1,408.96
Travel to Notre Dame (car rental, hotel, food) $2,423.16

(So by my calculation there is $240.66 remaining that can be returned to ORCA)