Journalism program for youngsters now makes its home at UA
Tuscaloosa News – May 11
An organization that has been making scribes of elementary and middle school students across the country for 17 years has a new home at the University of Alabama. UA’s department of journalism is the new home of the National Elementary Schools Press Association. The department and association officials held a news conference Thursday at the Tuscaloosa Magnet School library to announce the move. And of course, fourth-grade reporters for the school’s newspaper, The Magnet Express, covered the big announcement. Formed in 1994 by Mark Levin at Carolina Day School in Asheville, N.C., the National Elementary Schools Press Association works with elementary and middle schools across the country to start class and school newspapers and improve existing ones. Levin said Thursday that the organization has more than 760 member schools nationwide. The move to UA is the result of Levin’s upcoming retirement after single-handedly running the association for the past 17 years. UA is already home to the Alabama Scholastic Press Association and the Multicultural Journalism Program.
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – May 11
UA professor: Pro sports leagues looking at jersey sponsorships for new revenue
Al.com – May 11
Major American sports leagues could soon be looking to sell corporate sponsorships on their game jerseys, according to research by a University of Alabama professor. Lance Kinney, an associate professor in the advertising and public relations department, began looking at the potential of gameday jersey sponsorships for NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB teams as he compared and contrasted European and American sporting markets. Across the world, soccer teams have a long tradition of selling advertising and sponsorships for jerseys, while major American sports have rarely ventured further than allowing partnering sportswear companies to display their logos and names on gameday uniforms. “In the American sporting leagues, it is the last resource that has yet to be tapped,” Kinney said. “Teams are maxed out in every other sponsorship category that they have. They’ll have a soft drink sponsor, a sport drink sponsor, they may well have a financial sponsor, a cell service sponsor, so they’re always looking for new categories and new real estate.”
Chattanooga’s radio-operated streetlamps
Bloomberg Businessweek – May 10
Almost a third of Chattanooga’s annual energy bill comes from old high-pressure sodium streetlamps … After deciding to replace the streetlamps with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that can cut energy use by 70 percent, Chattanooga officials discovered a local company with a further cost-saving proposal: a radio-controlled system that can also slash maintenance expenses. Combined, the changes promise dollar savings of 75 percent to 80 percent … Global Green and Sensus, a Raleigh (N.C.) company that makes the radios and metering equipment, are doing more demonstrations in Baltimore, Ottawa, and at several universities. The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa began a test with 15 lights from Global Green in April and plans to expand it in coming weeks. The system has helped enhance security, cut energy use, and trim maintenance costs, says Tim Leopard, the school’s assistant vice president for construction. It also allows control of lights at athletic facilities such as tennis courts from afar, he says. The technology “could solve a lot of challenges we have,” Leopard says.
UA’s Rose Towers used as training ground for firefighters
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – May 10
Tuscaloosa firefighters use a vacant University of Alabama dorm to stage a rescue drill. They suited up and used all 14 floors of Rose Towers. High-rise rescue training is rare there because only a handful of buildings are taller than four story buildings rescuers usually train in. Crews from throughout the department will take turns. Firefighters will perform nine drills over three days, including searching for a victim and getting them out safely.
WAFF-NBC (Huntsville) – May 10
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – May 10