"As a student newspaper, our primary issue is ease-of-use and trainability on our website," said Steven Chappell, Director of Student Media at Northwest Missouri State University. "We also wanted a site that would prepare our students for future employment."
The student newspaper website, NWMissouriNews.com, has been powered by BLOX CMS for over thirteen years. "You can't beat the stability of BLOX Digital, and that, combined with the real-world experience and advantage it gives our students, makes it worth the investment for us."
The program offers a Mass Media degree with a variety of emphases: multimedia journalism, sports media, broadcast and production, advertising and content strategy. Students from across those disciplines work for the student newspaper, and many of them are employed by regional media outlets when they graduate.
Armed with BLOX Digital experience, students stand out and possess sought-after capabilities. "Our graduates compete on a national level for mid-range media market jobs on graduation, rather than just small-market entry-level jobs."
Given that so many media organizations also utilize BLOX CMS, Chappell's students gain invaluable real-world exposure during their academic journey. This experience significantly bolsters their employability post-graduation.
Capitalizing on a passion for sports
With readers spanning not just the campus but the entire local community, the online student newspaper aims to provide a seamless user experience. Students focus on engagement and audience building, with a strong emphasis on the sports section and related traffic.
"Maryville is a sports-centric town, so our coverage of campus and local high school sports is unmatched in our area, drawing in both local and regional viewers. Most of our online advertising is directed in that section of the site."
The email newsletter, which is also sports-heavy, has become the primary driver of traffic to the website, with a nearly 30 percent click-through rate.
Weathering the cycle of student turnover
For Chappell, it's critical that the student media site doesn't depend on an individual student or a long-term employee to maintain. Thanks to BLOX Digital's comprehensive training solutions, students are empowered to efficiently manage and maintain an award-winning site, regardless of their coding experience.
"Our staff rolls over fairly regularly, and that means a lot of institutional knowledge rotating out. We can't take the risk of a self-built site by a student who will, at some point, graduate.
"With BLOX CMS as our backbone, our site remains stable as generations of journalists rotate through the newsroom"
By prioritizing professional readiness, the Northwest program—in partnership with BLOX Digital—has created an environment where students shine and transition seamlessly into media careers. NWMissouriNews.com underscores how technology, merged with innovative teaching, empowers students and redefines student media in the digital age.
