Pacific Index

By: Vivian McCullough

   Many students spend their summer relaxing, others take the opportunity to explore topics that go beyond the classroom. This year, student Olivia Azzollini is doing just that through her summer research project.

   Azzollini is a Sports Communication major, with a focus in journalism. For her summer research project, she’s going to focus on various college broadcasting programs by comparing studios and media rooms. Azzollini is the Editor-in-Chief for the school newspaper, The Index, and an anchor for Pacific’s new and upcoming club called BoxerTV. She covers many different topics such as campus life, juicy gossip, and sports news. 

   With Azzollini having close ties with broadcasting, she chose to collaborate with Sport Communication Asst. Professor Phil Busse. Their research will continue to help build Pacific University’s Boxer TV club, Index, and Pacific Sports. Specifically, Boxer TV is looking to expand their broadcasting media and they both want to see what other college media arts are doing for their video media.  

   The purpose of the project is based on one single question: What are other college media departments doing in terms of broadcasting? By focusing on this, Azzollini and Busse aim to better understand how to transition from print media to broadcasting media. They want to know the secret of what a successful broadcast takes, how it looks, and how to implement it. 

Azzollini said, “I’m curious to know what equipment and training we need to do in order to have a successful studio, and overall how to create a better broadcasting program.” 

   Going into her research, Azzollini is using comparative research methods like analyzing a variety of different college broadcast media. For instance, using online sources like: Youtube, media pages, and college websites. This approach allows her to gather real time data and engage directly with her project and her future endeavors in broadcasting. She also hopes to conduct interviews with universities that are willing to provide such information, and potentially make in-person visits to see the studios herself. 

   Azzollini also explained what this project means to her, “As an individual who wants to be in the broadcast industry it’s important to know what it takes. Our school doesn’t quite offer that yet, but that’s what we’re working towards.” 

    Summer research projects, especially like this, gives students like Azzollini the chance to build independence, develop critical thinking, and explore potential career interests. Not only is she paving the way for future broadcasters, she’s creating one heck of a summer research project.