A gift of $550,00 from the Amon G. Carter Foundation will help provide students at The University of Texas at Arlington with a renovated broadcast production studio for multidisciplinary and partner-based media projects.
The gift will support the renovation of the broadcast production studio housed in the Department of Communication in the College of Liberal Arts. The renovated space will be named the Amon G. Carter Foundation Broadcast Production Studio.
"This opens up new possibilities in media education by allowing us to increase the number of students who have access to the new space," said Charla Markham Shaw, chair of the Department of Communication. "It's amazing that we'll now have the capability to produce more high-quality work to better represent UTA and our students."
The Department of Communication trains and prepares students to meet the demands of the communication and media industries. Students will be able to participate in multidisciplinary coursework and research, produce high-quality media materials, strengthen their media portfolios and go into the industry equipped with the right tools and skills.
"We are grateful to the Amon G. Carter Foundation for its years of support and partnership," UTA President Jennifer Cowley said. "This generous investment will help UTA continue preparing exemplary leaders in journalism and communication, a fitting legacy for Mr. Carter given his longtime leadership in journalism and media organizations in Fort Worth."
The renovated studio will move from the fourth floor in the Fine Arts Building to a suite on the first floor. The larger space will allow for the department to better equip students in the media and communication fields. The new space will include upgraded equipment, an area for a corporate set, a green screen and more.
"This will really change the face of our broadcasting program, but the impact will be on the whole department," Shaw said. "Our students will be able to produce high-quality materials that encapsulate how professionally and effectively they can communicate and help them be well-rounded job candidates once they graduate."
In addition, the department is working to launch the nation's first bilingual meteorology/weathercasting program. There is high demand for more well-trained meteorologists who can deliver information on weather patterns and climate change to the public, especially Spanish-speaking audiences.
"With this gift we are able to continue Mr. Carter's legacy as an eminent newspaper founder, publisher and media broadcaster," said John Robinson, the foundation's executive vice president. "UTA is cultivating a reputable program that will produce the next generation of communication leaders."
