BG NEWS TODAY

BG News part of converged approach
to the next 100 years of student media

The BG News celebrated its 100th anniversary in the 2020-21 academic year as a publication with an increased digital-first mindset and focus on convergence with other student media groups, as part of the unified group BG Falcon Media. That approach will continue the transformation of student media that likely leaves the news operation unrecognizable to BG News staff of years gone by.

The paper moved to a tabloid format in print in fall 2015 and, faced with declining advertising sales plaguing the entire newspaper industry, switched to a weekly publishing cycle in the 2019-20 academic year. As the print cycle slowed, the news cycle accelerated with a dual focus on a digital-first delivery and converged media approach.

The move into the new Kuhlin Center in fall 2016 included the appropriately named Media Convergence Lab where BG News staff work seamlessly with BG24 (a weekly newscast), Falcon Media Sports Network (which includes the Bowling Green Radio Sports Organization and creates all sports content across all platforms), Falcon Radio (the streaming-only student radio station), and Falcon Communications (student-run PR and social media agency).

All of these organizations feed content to BGFalconMedia.com, the student media website. This converged approach includes special print sections such as the annual Homecoming tab and award-winning Best of BG magazine, and the multi-platform Live & Loud — a show produced by media production students. The show features a local musical act performing in the Kuhlin Center’s Stanton Audio Recording Studio that results in content for social media, The BG News, BGFalconMedia.com, BG24, Falcon Media social channels, Falcon Radio, and WBGU-FM (now branded as Northwest Ohio’s Community Radio Station).

“Our converged approach helps prepare our students for the realities of the current and future media landscape as they need to be skilled at developing content across multiple platforms to compete in today’s job market,” said Falcon Media manager Karl Smith, who succeeded Bob Bortel following his retirement. “At the same time, our converged approach to content allows us to meet our community where they are most comfortable while creating a value proposition for Bowling Green businesses that will help us achieve sustainable financial stability.”

That sounds like a lot of change — and maybe it is — but the core principles that guided The BG News through its first 100 years continue to drive the student media mission.

“In some ways, we are doing the same exact thing we did 40 years ago,” Smith said. “The delivery mechanisms and timing may have changed, but we continue to serve the university and city community with timely, relevant journalism. The students are developing the skills necessary to serve as industry leaders after graduation and, maybe just as importantly, forging relationships that will last a lifetime.”

BG News/BG Falcon Media website