University launches news site By Matt Kapko and Michael Schnalzer News Editor and Managing Editor The Lumberjack January 21, 2004 Humboldt State University’s Community Relations Department has launched a new Web site for their press releases under the moniker of “Humboldt State News Online.” Touted as “The official news resource for (HSU),” the site was launched on Monday, Jan. 12, by the department’s director, Jane Rogers. Rogers has decades of experience in journalism and worked for the journalism department as a part-time lecturer up until last semester when she took on her new role. During her time lecturing, Rogers spearheaded the now defunct MergeMedia.org Web site, which was the merging of some of the journalism department’s media outlets. MergeMedia.org replaced all the previous Web sites for those outlets, including thejack.org. This led to inner-department battles—both student and faculty driven—over the placement of media on the site and its content. When Rogers left, she passed the duties of Merge Media on to Andy Alm while they both worked in tandem on the beginning stages of Humboldt State News Online. Since the class for Merge Media only generated five students this semester, the entire project was cancelled after only two semesters. This left many of the journalism department’s online outlets in limbo. And before any plans were made to resurrect the news Web sites in the journalism department, Humboldt State News Online was up and running. Rogers has nothing but praise for Alm. “What he’s created, I really feel, is one of the strongest Web sites within the (Cal State University system).” When asked about Humboldt State News Online’s claim to the “official news resource” for the campus, Rogers said, “It’s official in that it’s the university voice." Home