Satellite Radio Welcomes ‘FAMU NOW!’
Florida A&M University School of Journalism and Graphic Communication hosted a launch premiering ‘FAMU NOW!’ on SIRIUS XM Wednesday.
The 30-minute broadcast will be aired on SIRIUS XM Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) channel 142, which is contracted by Howard University (HU). The channel highlights what goes on at the different HBCUs.
The channel has various HBCUs but HU is the main university with content that feature their programming.
‘FAMU NOW!’ will be a weekly show centralizing on what goes on at FAMU from students, faculty and alumni airing every Wednesday at 4 p.m.
Keta Browning, a senior Broadcast Journalism student from Ocala Fla., will be a correspondent on the show.
“I’m excited for people to see a fun, fresh new side of FAMU through the hard work that we’ve put into these broadcasts,” Browning said.
This program will give insight to a national audience to become aware of what is going on at FAMU.
Allison North Jones, member of the Board of Visitors for the School of Journalism and Graphic Communication, said she thinks this is a tremendous opportunity for the university, particularly The School of Journalism and Graphic Communication (SJGC).
“I think it is a great opportunity for a national audience to be transported onto the campus of Florida A&M University,” Jones said. “Not only have an awareness of what is happening on a weekly basis, but get a better perspective on the immensely talented students and alumni that exist.”
HU extended the invitation to FAMU and other universities to give them an opportunity to promote fresh content about their university or other things they offer.
FAMU responded to HU with the segment ‘FAMU NOW!’ as an offer to be aired on the HBCU channel.
Many HBCUs have taken advantage of the opportunity. FAMU is the latest HBCU to execute an agreement with HU and SIRIUS XM.
Eric Winkfield, public relations coordinator at FAMU, said “Famu Now” will give students a platform to shine.
“There’s a lot of great work that’s being done by students here on campus and a lot of times it may not get as highlighted,” Winkfield said. ‘FAMU NOW!’ provides another outlet to tell the good story about FAMU, such as Tonnette Graham, who just got elected as the first African American woman to the Florida Board of Governors and/or the FAMU baseball team winning the championship.”
The show will be produced by students and recent alumni of the SJGC.
“‘FAMU NOW!’ It’s a great opportunity for our university because it gives us a chance to tell our story,” Winkfield said.
“One of the most innovative things about the show is that it’s being produced out of the School of Journalism of Graphic Communication,” Jones added.
Mahoganie Reckley, a fourth-year Broadcast Journalism student from Pompano Beach, Fla., is a correspondent for SIRIUS XM “FAMU NOW!”. She expressed it’s all about FAMU and moving forward in a new era under President Elmira Mangum leadership.
“It’s about moving forward past Robert Champion and all the negative connotation. It’s now about pushing and progressing forward to FAMU 2015 and beyond,”Reckley said.