RIT University News Launches New Web Site Spotlighting Academic News

Rochester Institute of Technology’s University News has launched a new Web site that showcases academic news—such as research, scholarship, science and technology—while featuring new-media tools including a blog, podcasts, video podcasts and RSS (online subscription) feeds. The site can be found at www.rit.edu/news.

RIT Chief Communications Officer Bob Finnerty says the new Web site positions University News to be more than just a traditional public relations department. He notes that more than 50 million Americans receive news online daily, according to a recent study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project. Many broadband users now use the Internet as their primary source of news.

“The study also found that 73 percent of high-speed users search for news about science and technology online,” says Finnerty “And users are looking for non-traditional media Web sites to find such information. This is an opportunity for University News to be a leader in information exchange in new ways.”

Finnerty says RIT already has a built-in audience of nearly 200,000 comprising alumni, faculty, staff, students and students’ parents. “But we plan to broaden our reach for consumers who want more news related to technology,” he adds.

Features of the new site include:

• Research news in specialty areas including arts and imaging, business, computing, deaf issues, engineering and science
  
• The Tiger Beat blog (www.thetigerbeat.com), featuring insight into inner-workings of University News and the “story behind the story”
  
• Biweekly podcasts on top RIT news
  
• Video podcasts featuring RIT researchers
  
• The Coach’s Corner: A weekly podcast with Wayne Wilson, RIT men’s hockey coach
  
• A database of RIT subject-matter experts

The University News Web site had more than1.5 million sessions and 3.2 million page views in 2006 prior to the launch of the new site. Finnerty expects traffic on the new site will increase steadily in 2007.

“The media landscape is changing rapidly,” he says. “We feel we are offering a niche service for a public that is hungry for more news related to academics and research.”

Founded in 1829, RIT is internationally recognized as a leader in computing, engineering, imaging technology, fine and applied arts, and education for the deaf. RIT enrolls more than 15,500 students in more than 340 undergraduate and graduate programs.