by Jen Lynds, UTimes Advisor
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine– For more than a year, writers at the University Times have concentrated on building both the content and quality of their newly launched website.
Journalists from the student-run paper at the University of Maine at Presque Isle participated in University Day in the spring of 2024. University Day is an annual event that takes place in April at UMPI to celebrate the academic accomplishments of its pupils. The authors focused on the method of transitioning from print to digital media, which entailed creating a website for their publication.
“We had six journalists back then who were dedicated to describing the amount of work that went into creating a website for the UTimes,” Jen Lynds, English, communication, and journalism professor and advisor for the University Times, said Monday. “Our website is thriving and expanding every day. President Marah Russell will share how we’ve grown into a newspaper that tells the stories of a truly global campus.”
This University Day is themed: “Bold Frontiers: The Intersection of Creativity and Technology,” and will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 15-16. On Tuesday evening, UTimes president Marah Russell will be among 21 participants speaking during a poster session that will run from 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. in the Campus Center.
“When I first saw the theme for this year’s University Day, ‘The Intersection of Creativity and Technology,’ I knew it was an excellent opportunity to highlight the University Times’ transition from a print newspaper to a global website,” said Russell. “Our website amplifies the voices of those who were previously overlooked by on-campus organizations such as YourPace, Hyflex, and Online students,” said Russell.
She also noted that she will also “spotlight how transitioning to digital has opened up new opportunities and platforms for our journalists, including the launch of The Writers’ Room podcast, multimedia projects, and greater visibility and recognition for our work.”
Russell intends to sketch out the history of student-operated publications at the UMPI campus, while maintaining her emphasis on the University Times and other digital platforms.
“I hope that by showcasing the achievements of the University Times, along with my own contributions, it will generate interest among people on campus,” said Russell. “Moreover, University Day is just the beginning of keeping the conversation about the UTimes alive. With the events and university activities we’ll be involved in, it will be difficult to miss us, and I’m truly grateful to be one of the individuals shaping the future of the UTimes—one presentation at a time!”
