Azusa Pacific University Opens Convergent Media Center

Azusa Pacific will unveil and dedicate its new Convergent Media Center on Thursday, Sept. 27 at 11 a.m. on West Campus, located at 701 E. Foothill Blvd., in Azusa. Thanks to a generous grant from The Ahmanson Foundation, the new media center will equip journalism and public relations students with the experience needed to hone their skills and succeed as ethical professionals in these evolving industries.

The Convergent Media Center features workstations, a soundstage, and a broadcast recording studio. The center houses ZU Media, APU’s student-run converged media outlet, which produces a newspaper, audio and video content, and a magazine. In addition the center houses a student-managed public relations firm. Students will train on all media platforms, gaining a well-rounded skill set.

“The Convergent Media Center is a transformative addition to the APU community, helping students become truth-seeking reporters, master the art of storytelling, and develop the skills to be faithful agents of change in the world,” said Kent Walls, assistant professor of journalism.

Jamie Roebuck-Joseph ’18, editor-in-chief of ZU News, said that working as a student journalist at APU gives her an advantage when applying for jobs and internships. “Hands-on experience is essential for journalism students. Whether it’s news clips, video packages, or radio segments, now is the time to build my portfolio, and the new space will help me do that.”

Roebuck-Joseph said that the converged newsroom will provide students with more opportunities to collaborate. “With our workstations right next to the soundstage and broadcast studio, we can share resources, lean on each other’s expertise, and problem solve together.”

According to Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, “The convergence process, multi-skilling, the need to integrate digital network technologies, and a new producer-consumer relationship have become the largest challenges for journalism today.”