RELEASED: May 5, 2005

DANVILLE, KY—Centre College students now can find out what's happening on campus just by turning on their televisions, thanks to the efforts of some enterprising and media-savvy students—with valuable assistance from College staff.

Sophomore Mary Jane Saunier, the newly elected Student Government Association president, has taken the lead in bringing the news to the campus television station on channel 12.

Saunier, an international studies major from Winchester, Ky., pitched the idea for a television news program at Centre to Bill Johnston, associate dean and professor of mathematics. Johnston and Saunier then met with Megan O'Brien, director of student activities and educational programming, and Larry Baker, director of media resources at Centre, to discuss Saunier's vision for a student-run television news program.

"From what I've heard," Saunier says," many of our students are interested in getting experience in journalism and broadcasting."

Since 1991, students on campus have been able to tune into channel 12 from their residence hall rooms for movies and convocation information. Now they will be able to catch up on sports results, recent and upcoming convocations, interviews with professors and the weekend weather forecast.

"This is a win-win for the college," Johnston says. "These students are doing something they're proud of. The programs enhance the college community by promoting events and help the students by preparing them for future internships and independent studies. We've had Centre students interested in TV and media before, so this is something our students can include on a resume that will give them a real advantage over someone who doesn't have this experience."

The news crew currently plans to broadcast a 30-minute program every two weeks and hopes to eventually produce a weekly program.

Recently the news crew went to Cowan Dining Commons to give students an opportunity to name the new program. Michael Hall, a junior history major from Jacksonville, Fla., helped come up with the winning title, "Front and Centre."

"The name was taken from a famous street corner at Fernandina Beach, just north of my house," says Hall, who writes and reports the news for "Front and Centre."

"I really enjoy reporting due to the person-to-person interaction and I really like writing up reviews for convocations," Hall adds. "I hope this program will eventually help the College establish a permanent academic program in communications. I think my participation in this program will assist me in my plans to get into journalism school and will also help me in my future career as a journalist. I see a bright future for this program and look forward to greater participation from the student body and a greater expansion of taped news shows."

Saunier says all students involved will have the opportunity to try different roles—from anchors and reporters to behind the scenes. For the first production, senior Hillary Monroe, a double major in French and government from Madison Ind., and freshman J.J. McConaha of Parksville, Ky., served as anchors.

"Our first production went really well and with advancing technology and increasing faculty and student interest in 'Front and Centre,' the program will only get better," Monroe says. "The experience has helped and will continue to help with my expressive communication and public speaking abilities. It's just a really good experience to have under your belt. You also have to always try to read your reports right the first time so you don't have to do multiple re-takes."

The second and final broadcast this spring of "Front and Centre" can be seen this weekend on channel 12. Broadcasts will resume in the fall.

"It's lots of hard work, but if you get a lot of people interested in the same goal, anything is possible," Saunier says.

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

For news archives go to http://www.centre.edu/web/news/newsarchive.html.

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