Donation Funds HD Upgrade to Student-Run TV Studio at Cal Poly
Thanks to a $100,000 donation to the Journalism Department from Bill and Cheryl Swanson, the university’s student-run television studio has been outfitted with the latest cameras, switchers and other equipment, allowing students to broadcast in high definition.
“We chose to make this donation because we believe in Learn by Doing, and Cal Poly students deserve the best,” said Bill Swanson, chairman of Cal Poly’s Foundation Board and retired chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of Raytheon Company. The total cost of the renovations will be about $125,000. The remodeled, state-of-the-art facility was ready for students to use in spring quarter, in early April.
A formal dedication of the new facility, named the Bill and Cheryl Swanson Broadcast Studio, took place Friday, May 5. Maintained by the Journalism Department and the College of Liberal Arts, the studio is a broadcast laboratory where students produce a live 30-minute weekly newscast, a weekly sports show, and numerous talk and interview shows.
Cal Poly alumnus Bill Swanson learned of the need for an upgraded studio at last year’s Evening of Green and Gold, the university’s annual donor recognition event. When he stopped by the booth for the student-run media group, Mustang News, graduating journalism senior Leah Horner explained the potential benefits for students. Bill Swanson invited Horner to make a presentation at the upcoming Foundation Board meeting. After the presentation, the Swansons offered to fund the studio upgrade.
Article Originally Appeared in the 2017 Journalism Department Newsletter: https://journalism.calpoly.edu/Press-HD-upgrade