BEA Ignite shares the best peer-reviewed enterprise ideas for the classroom. In the 2017 edition held April 25th, presenters had 5 minutes to share 20 slides of the top teaching ideas at the annual convention of the Broadcast Education Association.

1. BEA IGNITE
Robyn Ledbetter
University of Arkansas
Let’s Converge and Collaborate:
Bringing news/editorial and broadcast students together

2. Let’s converge &
collaborate:
Bringing news/editorial and broadcast students together.
Robyn Ledbetter
Director of Student Media
University of Arkansas

3. Two classes work together
to cover news on multiple
platforms
● TV News Reporting 1
● News/Editorial Reporting 2

4. Collaboration
● Two of my classes join hands and work together to cover
a story. News/editorial students bring their writing skills
to the table. Broadcast students bring their cameras
and editing skills and they’re divided into pairs. They
pitch their stories to me.
● They must cover that story multiple ways.
● Write a news/ed version
● Turn a traditional news package
● Provide at least one other digital element to accompany it-- a
photo slideshow, one featured image, instagram photo/
video/GIF, twitter, etc.

5. They crack the code behind
mobile and social native content
● The teams produce video stories, Instagram content, Snapchat
stories, GIFs, personality-based video series for social media, mini-
documentaries for social media, and news content.
● Develop content students are consuming on mobile devices and
social media platforms.
● Storytelling, above all, is at the core of what we do, but recognize the
changes in the industry and focus on experimentation.

6. It’s tough
● This is typically the first time either of them have
been exposed to this type of storytelling where they
must work together to cover a story different ways.
● They complain.
● They struggle with thinking about storytelling
differently.
● This challenges them to work together.

7. What they learn
● Understand the vision of the students and how they get their news.
● Don’t be shy when it comes to new platforms.
● Find the most cost effective way to print and distribute.
● Strong curriculum is important.
● Institutional support is key. The faculty in the Journalism Department and
Student Media collaborating is important.

8. Why it works
● It’s always praised as the favorite assignment from
both courses.
● Our students know how to write, edit, and shoot
videos, and use simple graphics. They are able to
leap into producing directly for social media with
confidence and competence.
● They walk away with something to add to the e-
portfolio that shows versatility and an
understanding of digital journalism.