Humber Polytechnic Journalism students are benefiting from a partnership between Humber and Village Media that has resulted in the launch of a new and improved Humber Et Cetera website.
Mike Wise, a professor and program coordinator with the Journalism Graduate Certificate program, said the new state-of-the-art platform, which is provided through Village Media's Villager system, represents a significant advancement in journalism education at Humber. Wise added Humber is the first post-secondary institution in the country to use the Villager system.
The new site offers a professional, contemporary design that will serve as a hub for hyperlocal news coverage of the campus and surrounding areas. Students will benefit from the latest online publishing tools, gaining invaluable hands-on experience that will prepare them for the evolving media landscape.
The site also features free classified ads, polls, an event calendar and directory listings for campus groups, which enhances student engagement and community building. Wise said there are plans to run paid ads on the site as a potential revenue source.
"We are thrilled to partner with Village Media to provide our students with cutting-edge resources that will be a game-changer for our journalism program," said Wise. "It provides our students with tools they need to showcase their journalism while also creating a dynamic space for campus engagement."
Wise added that the move to the new site has allowed them to create and share more content that continues to engage and inform their readers. The Media Hub dropdown on the website has links to video interviews, podcasts and more.
There's also a Campus Guide with information on places to eat on campus, student services, arts and entertainment, and health and beauty options, among others.
"We're serving our audience in a way that is meaningful," said Wise, noting Humber's robust student and staff population means the Humber community is about the size of small city and needs to be covered by its media as such.
"We are thrilled to be able to provide the technology to support the next generation of journalists. Investing in emerging journalists is investing in the integrity and vibrancy of tomorrow's news. We are proud to play a role in fostering well-informed and connected communities," said Jeff Elgie, CEO of Village Media.
Wise added students will continue to focus on hyperlocal reporting for Humber and the surrounding communities and will lean into analytics to ensure the right stories are reaching their audience. Wise said people are hungry for information and want to know what's happening at the local level in their communities and the Humber Et Cetera can help address that desire.
The new Humber Et Cetera website replaces the old Humber News website.
