Journalism students work on the weekly newscast TCU News Now. Produced by the News Production course, the broadcast covers campus, local and national news. Photo by James Seeley.
“Welcome to TCU News Now.”
Patty Zamarripa ’10, associate professor of professional practice in journalism, encourages her “Advanced News Production” students to think creatively. The course features the weekly live newscast TCU News Now, covering campus, local and national news produced entirely by the students.
“The ‘Advanced News Production’ class is one of my favorites to teach,” Zamarripa said. “My students create an environment virtually identical to a real broadcast newsroom. They push the envelope every year, doing more shows, being more creative and reaching new audiences.”
Broadcasting from the Campus Commons
This semester the students are broadcasting News Now in the Campus Commons to reach more audiences.
At the start of each semester, Zamarripa challenges her students to make the course their own. They manage everything from anchoring and producing to advertising and audience engagement. This hands-on approach allows students to explore innovative solutions.
“This year, the students took real ownership of the show and found a way to broadcast from the Commons. The buy-in is always exciting to see,” Zamarripa said.
Senior Ryan Thorpe, a communication studies and journalism double major, led efforts to expand the audience. Involved with TCU social media, Thorpe recognized additional ways to inform students about the live newscast.
“I wanted to bring the show to as many people as possible—not just to share the news, but to showcase the work the News Now team puts into each show,” he said.
“The students work hard to produce packages, run broadcasts, anchor and crew the shows, and we want everyone to learn about what we do.”
Breaking News When It Matters
In addition to the weekly live broadcast, students launched the TCU News Now Daily Update, where a student presents quick news updates each day. This initiative allows more students to gain reporting experience and share timely information.
“I want to educate the TCU community about campus events and the world beyond. Many students aren’t aware of what’s happening around them,” Thorpe said. “We aim to connect everyone and keep them informed.”
The daily update lasts about two minutes, providing quick hits of information and enhancing students’ learning and professional portfolios.
Tune in to TCU News Now at 4 p.m. on Wednesdays this semester and check out their daily updates at tcu360.com.