INTERVIEW:
Prof. Patty Zamarripa, TCU CO 2010, Bob Schieffer College of Communication
Speaker 2: (01:46)
Okay. So my first question is just about the minority groups and those smaller groups that aren't represented. Do you think that TCU 360 does a good job of making sure those stories are heard?
Speaker 1: (02:03)
I do think that I do think that TCU three does a good job that I think there's always, you know, room for improvement. And I think we're working on that. You know, when you think about TCU 360, it's not just what you see in a written article, you know, TCU 360 is also image magazine. It's also the skiff. It's also news now. Um, and all of the groups surrounding it. So like, you know, for instance, we have things like N a B J national association of black journalists, a H J national association of Hispanic journalists. I know there's one for Asian American, um, and Pacific ISER People. I don't know if that's a, if we have that chapter active at TCU, but we have people who are involved in TCU 360 and our members of those organizations. And they do work to make sure that people from minority groups have their stories and their voices heard. So yeah, I think, I think they do what they can. I do. I think they do as much as they can. And there are already things in place that are working toward making even more of that happen.
Speaker 2: (03:42)
What's something that you think that could be improved on?
Speaker 1: (03:49)
I think, I really think this letting more people know that about what's happening on campus, but like we're covering things that are way more substantial than just, oh, the football game. You know, not to say that the football game doesn't important, but you know, we're, we are covering issues like hung, you know, hunger in America, the Fort Worth city budget, you know, TCUs, sus Centennial sus Centennial is coming up. You know, we just published a big report on CRT, which is critical race theory and how that's being, and handled that issue here in Texas. And I don't think people on campus really realize this is really good reporting. This isn't just, you know, a community calendar. And so I think if more people relied on TCU360 for getting their news, I think they would see some of those voices and stories come through and realize, oh, we, you know, we all are represented in so many different ways. And, you know, like I said, the reporting is much more intentional than just doing something that, you know, every other campus paper does.
Speaker 2: (05:31)
Right. Right. How do you think TCU 360 has changed over the past few years slash decades?
Speaker 1: (05:42)
Gosh, so I used to back in, I can't quite remember. I think when I was at TCU, which was 2006 to 2010 as an undergrad. I don't remember TCU 360 a being a thing mm-hmm it may have been around. I really just can't remember, but we had the skiff and, and the skiff wasn't a weekly publication. It was a daily be publication . So, you know, things are, so that it's changed in that sense that like, you know, as, as technology changes and as when technology changes the way we consume the news and media changes too. So we had to change mm-hmm in newsroom across the country, had to change how they distribute and how they do news. And so that has changed dramatically at TCU 360. You know, we have kept up with needed just like the rest of the news industry has.
Speaker 1: (06:59)
So we have, you know, we have things on social media, we have strong website, but we also have image magazine and news now. And all of these other things that the way we do news is no longer just putting out a newspaper that doesn't work for people. And so it can't, it doesn't work for us. So we've, we've changed in the way we distribute the news. But I also think under, under like the leadership that we've had recently with Jean Brown, being the director of student media, you know, she is really put every student and all of her reporting classes too did for those deeper stories and she's brought something to the site, which is fault lines. You know, that people may not have really understood back in my, we certainly never talked about fault lines when I was at 360.
Speaker 1: (08:08)
When I was here at TCU, I mean, we talked about not being biased and, you know, considering all different angles of a story and how different people would view them, but it was never presented and so strong in the way that it's been now. And so I think that has really helped change our coverage too, not just doing more in depth reporting, but, you know, looking for fault lines, looking for how somebody from one minority group would view this story or these issues versus another minority group. And it's not just about minority groups, it's, you know, fault lines covers geography, sexual orientation, gender, class. Anyway, you get the, you get the idea. So our, our, the way we distribute it has changed, but also our coverage has definitely changed too. We've grown from being just a little campus newspaper to covering issues in the community that impact everyone.
Speaker 2: (16:52)
So do you think that we've done like a good job promoting TCU 360? Do you have any, I guess maybe not solutions, but recommendations or ideas that you would like to see put in place for the future of TCU 360?
Speaker 1: (17:12)
I think I would, this is a problem that every newsroom has, including TCU360. It's like, we wait for the technology to change, and then we react like newsrooms, just do their traditional stuff. And then they react to, oh, people don't get their news that way anymore. Now we have to change and most newsroom just don't have time. Like nobody has time to sit and go, okay, what's the future bringing. Right, right. But there are, there are people who are looking into how, like the future and what what's coming. And so I think paying attention to that, having an ear to those, you know, to those discussions. And I think that will help drive and, and, you know, what's coming next and how do we need to change? How do we need to evolve? How do we get, get ourselves out there?
Speaker 1: (19:23)
Mm-hmm , um, the students line at it and copy, copy at it. And they're writing the articles and pitching the idea and formatting and coming up with ideas. And so I think seeing more of that is, is gonna be super key and super important to TC 360. And I think doing projects like the one that you're doing are gonna be vital because, you know, you all are, are, are the ones that it consume, this stuff, you all are the ones that produce it and consume it, and you all know what you want and, and how you wanna get it. You all know how you wanna get your news. So I think it's gonna be up to you, um, to say, Hey, there's this new platform, or, Hey, have we tried this. So I think if, as long as we continue down the road of, you know, allowing it to be student run, which I don't see that ever changing.
Speaker 1: (20:23)
Right. Um, allowing it to be student run and be this openness to creativity and see what's coming and trying new things. That's the other thing about being in college and having a student college student media is, you know, you can try things and see if they work. Right. And I think that's, I think that has to stay, I think that has to continue at TCU 360 in order for it to succeed. That's what I want to see for the future of it, because things are gonna change and I think more is gonna go toward the phone from now on. And so how do we reach people, right. That are on their phones and not on their computers, unless they have to do work.
Speaker 1: (27:10)
Yeah, and I think we're gonna work on it. I have some ideas in my head so much that I wanna do. And I'm that's one of the big things is like doing more live stuff and because I think, I think people wanna see that and I think we have the platforms to make it happen.
Speaker 2: (27:46)
Well, I think that's pretty much all the, the questions that I have for you. Um, thank you so much for meeting with me and doing this. It means a lot.
Speaker 1: (27:57)
Oh, of course. If you need anything else, like don't hesitate to, you know, text me or email me and I can always, you know, follow up if I'm not available on the phone, I can always like help answer additional questions.
CAMPAIGN IDEA/TARGET AUDIENCE:
My intended campaign was to spread awareness to TCU360 and provide a voice to those who may be underrepresented or voiceless in TCU media, such as minority groups including African Americans, Hispanics, or members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Much of the content that authors publish within TCU360 stems from what the general population of TCU wants to read/hear, but the issue that results from that is the fact that published content, again, feeds into the general population. This means that smaller groups or members from smaller communities may not be represented as much or at all.
There are a plethora of events that occur both within and outside of TCU's campus, and not every story is covered. My goal is not to cover every story on campus--rather it is to shift the target audience on whose behalf these stories are published. My goal is to reach those groups of people who remain underrepresented or unheard and have their stories shared. I believe that everyone has a story they wish to share, but all stories are equally as important as any other. Whether it be covering a story on TCU's advancement within the football association or reporting a story on goat yoga in the commons, every single person deserves a voice, and every person deserves to be heard. With my campaign, I hope to change the face of TCU360 and what TCU's media organization stands for and represents.
So, how do we go about that, exactly?
I have designed a campaign that I would distribute in the form of posters and stand-up signs around campus that students, faculty, alumni, and even members outside of TCU's campus can read. This campaign would advertise and encourage others to share their story ideas so that TCU360 would be able to cover them. It's simple, efficient, and anonymous (if desired). Because of modern society's growing dependence on mobile technology, I have included a QR code that people can scan that will bring them to a form where they can answer questions about the upcoming events that they wish to be covered and distributed around campus in the form of TCU news. For those who do not have access to a mobile device, there would be a physical location present in Moudy South. This would include a box inside of the first floor upon entering the doors of the building. There will be physical copies of the online form printed and a small opening to the box so that people may slip in their requests. The request forms and box will be checked once a week, and members of TCU360 will reach out and either approve or deny the idea presented.
If an idea is approved, the process will move forward. Then, a second form will be sent to the email provided on the first form asking more questions about the idea and any other details they wish to provide. Then, a member of tCU360 will meet with that person during the event and cover their story. Per usual, stories will be published online as soon as they complete all stages of editing and will be distributed in newspaper form the following Thursday.
THE CAMPAIGN:
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