New Web site brings research to the masses

Mizzou Wire presents research topics, sports, features, news and events.

By Michelle Hagopian

Published Oct. 23, 2007

A new Web site launched last week creates another information outlet for MU students and faculty.

Mizzou Wire, launched Oct. 17, seeks to make MU research more understandable to core audiences, editor Chris Blose said.

"Mizzou Wire will primarily consist of news and feature stories of the university," Blose said.

Other information, including limited sports coverage and coverage of events on campus, will also be featured on the site.

"The site won't necessarily focus on sports because so many other media outlets feature sports coverage," Blose said. "Our intent is to cover the lesser-known campus events as well as MU research, which is typically overlooked by

users."

He said although MU is a research university, many students still are uneducated about the subject.

Mizzou Wire will try to present research in a way that all audiences can relate to and understand, Blose said.

Web Communications Director Lori Croy said a consultant to the department recommended the new site.

"Mizzou Wire has been in the works for us the past few months," Croy said. "Previously, we were

working hard to make information available, but we didn't have a sufficient way of doing so."

Mizzou Wire is one of several pieces to a communications strategy developed by Web Communications.

The staff also aided the Office of Publications and Alumni Communication in launching their first version of an online magazine, and they redesigned the MU news bureau Web

site.

"Mizzou Wire is really the third piece of the puzzle to our latest strategy," Croy said. "Now that the site is launched, we also aim to redesign the @Mizzou electronic

newsletter."

The concept of Mizzou Wire initially began by simply redesigning the main MU Web site. Since then, Web Communications has devoted its attention to making information specific to the users of the site, Croy

said.

In addition, Mizzou Wire seeks to expand its audience.

"We're trying to incorporate more students into our audience," Blose said. "Right now, they make up very little of total users. We're essentially trying to broaden our audience to anyone who may be interested in the university."

The department had to extensively research the interests of their audience, Croy said.

"Online media is constantly changing, and to stay on top of technology, our staff spends endless hours researching what our users want," Croy

said.

She said the information on Mizzou Wire is the focal point while the design appropriately complements the

stories.

The staff makes changes as needed once new research is presented.

One of the problems the site faces involves competition.

"The number of online media outlets has increased significantly in recent years," online journalism professor Clyde Bentley said. "Mizzou Wire is a well-structured site, but it will face competition with other informational

sites."

Bentley, who is also the director of the citizen journalism Web site MyMissourian.com, said Mizzou Wire is easily accessible.

"The site is certainly easy to use, but it may be difficult for users to find if they don't know what they're looking for," he said.

Bentley said everyone should have a means of accessing university information.

Mizzou Wire is a quick way to become aware of events on campus and the site's design makes it more appealing to users, he said.

"Prior to this site, it didn't seem appropriate for the general public to find information from news releases or Web sites intended for media use

only," Croy added.

Mizzou Wire is considered a companion piece to other forms of media at the university, including alumni magazines, Blose said.

The stories on Mizzou Wire are tailored to appeal to an external audience, Croy

said.

"Our main goal is to get news out to everyone in a different format through this site," Blose said.

The Mizzou Wire Web site can be accessed at

mizzouwire.missouri.edu.