Athletics & Recreation

Social-media hub lets Pioneers fans follow their teams online

Students man the social-media hub during a recent hockey game. Photo: DU Athletics

Pioneer pride has gone digital.

During Homecoming and Family Weekend in October, DU’s Division of Athletics and Recreation launched Denver Digital, the first social-media hub on campus.

The cyber-heart of Pioneer sports is in a corner of the Magness Arena press box, overlooking the hockey rink and basketball court. With six flat-screen computer monitors and a 60-inch flat-screen TV, Denver Digital is equipped to bring each game to interactive life. This includes hockey, basketball, volleyball, swimming, soccer – you name it.

“Now we have one voice and vision for social media,” says Nicole Bostel, director of media relations for the division and co-chair of its social media committee.

Staffed by students from DU and other schools, Denver Digital uses Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to update fans in real time on game stats and information on athletes, as well as sharing video highlights and intermission interviews. Fans can comment on and share posts, creating a large digital community of Pioneer pride.

“With Denver Digital, we have so many opportunities to reach our fans and engage with them in ways we haven’t before,” Bostel says.

The social media committee created the entire hub for less than $500, drawing upon division resources and the generosity of outside sponsors such as Paul’s TV.

Several interns and work study-personnel help increase the bandwidth of the project, while students from DU and graduates of Metropolitan State University of Denver, Florida State University and the University of California add to the assortment of contributors.

“I’m pretty excited about it so we can get more butts in the seats,” says Meghan Angley, a student volunteer at Denver Digital.

Angley, a sophomore journalism major, says she is learning valuable skills from her work at the hub, such as using Photoshop to create infographics.

The social-media hub gives students real world experience that provides an introduction to sports communication and social media professions.

“When it comes to looking for positions elsewhere, Denver Digital unquestionably puts the interns ahead of the curve. The hub is a one-stop shop for keeping its operators at the forefront of the ever-changing landscape of digital technology,” says Erik Carr, a social-media intern and operator of Denver Digital.

The program is even generating interest from high school students. Sam Feldman, a senior at Gateway High School in Aurora, Colo., is working at the hub as an intern. He is learning about digital design and presenting information accurately online.

Denver Digital is still looking for students to help launch campaigns, compile analytics and create graphics.

“We have two seats open at any point in time, and we’d love to have them filled as often as possible,” Bostel says.

 

 

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