If you're a frequent Morning Edition or All Things Considered listener on WUSF 89.7 FM, then you're definitely familiar with the sunny piano tune that occasionally pops up, serving as the intro to the series "University Beat."
The locally produced program highlights research and other happenings at University of South Florida, like arts events or the opening of a new building. Longtime WUSF staffer Mark Schreiner serves as the program's reporter and producer.
On Tuesday WUSF Public Media announced it's launching a television version of the show as well, which is set to air Feb. 14 in an as-yet unannounced evening time slot.
“We’re thrilled to launch this new venture at the station, as many of this area’s most amazing stories happen right on the USF campus,” said WUSF Public Media General Manager JoAnn Urofsky in a written statement. “The show will also be a fantastic local addition to the national and international shows WUSF TV brings to this community — programs this community supports year after year.”
The show will air on Sunday nights and it'll feature in-studio and on-site interviews. While the coverage on the radio edition often highlights positive goings-on, Schreiner also isn't afraid to cover campus controversies.
“This program will follow in the footsteps of the original University Beat — showcasing USF students, research, and the role the university has in the community and in the region. We anticipate tackling serious university issues as they arise,” Urofsky said through a spokesman.
The first guest is expected to be USF president Judy Genshaft.
The public media outfit will bring in a director and host for the show's TV version (likely because Schreiner has his hands full with the radio segment and TV is a totally different animal); the show's executive producer will be William McQueen.
“An important goal is to show how USF has such a huge impact on this area and the whole region,” McQueen said. “Beyond that, we want this to be people-focused. If we produce a segment on a grant that allows researchers to go somewhere, we want to delve into the rationale, and the people, and why it’s important to them.”
This article appears in Dec 24-30, 2015.