OSKALOOSA—William Penn University’s Digital Communication program has teamed up with KYOU Fox-15 in Ottumwa to develop a two-year partnership. This partnership will allow students to gain hands-on experience with producing a nightly news broadcast.

In November 2014, the general manager of KYOU visited the WPU campus and watched the Communication Research Institute (CRI) produce its newscast with a student crew. After several meetings between WPU Administration and KYOU executives, a partnership was established in July 2015.

KYOU has employed seven WPU students to assist in producing nightly news programs and has begun practicing for these broadcasts in the newly upgraded studio in the Musco Technology Center (MTC) on the Oskaloosa campus. According to Digital Communication Program Director Matt Wagner, this experience for students is unique to other colleges and programs in Iowa.

“This partnership is a demonstration of the strength and value of  Penn’s Digital Communication program under the direction of Matt Wagner,” states John Ottosson, President of William Penn University. “While we believe this is a valuable service for the citizens of Ottumwa and southeastern Iowa, from an educational perspective it is invaluable to our students. This is a unique opportunity to allow our students to work for and be part of a professional team through KYOU and will strengthen their resume as they move forward in their careers.”

KYOU and William Penn University hope to launch their partnership and productions later this fall. KYOU news can be viewed on Channel 17 in Ottumwa.

Story provided by The Oskaloosa Harold