RJI Student Competition gives journalism, computer-science and business students chance to collaborate

A note from ONA Mizzou student leaders: To efficiently share the particulars of this competition with students at the University of Missouri, we have provided the details here, as they are unavailable elsewhere online. If you have questions about the competition, please contact Mike McKean at mckeanml@missouri.edu.

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Information session: 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Fred

W. Smith Forum (upstairs in RJI)

The 2011 winners developed an "Android-based game that lets players
build their own game-world digital publication," according to RJI.

Amanda Klohmann, far right, was an ONA Mizzou founding member

and 2011 convergence-journalism graduate.

By Reuben Stern and Mike McKean

It's not too late for you to help solve a real-world challenge faced by one of the country's largest consumer media companies -- Hearst Corporation -- and compete for a trip to New York as part of the 5th annual Reynolds Journalism Institute Student Competition.

You and a team of fellow students from journalism, business and computer science will compete against other student teams at Mizzou to win a free trip to New York City that includes a visit to Hearst headquarters in midtown Manhattan.

Hearst operates 15 newspapers and 29 television stations across the country. The company is also one of the world's largest publishers of monthly magazines, including Good Housekeeping, Esquire, Cosmopolitan and several others you've likely heard of.

We've held our first information session.  But next week we're following up with a speed dating session. Start assembling team members now, or just join us at 6 p.m. this Wednesday night to meet other interested students from across the campus to work with.

The full details:

• This year the contest focuses on developing new, digital revenue opportunities and business models for the online outlets of Hearst's newspapers and television stations.
• Teams will be given access to real-time Adobe SiteCatalyst and Google Analytics data from selected Hearst properties in order to research, plan and prototype their new products and services.
• Each team is expected to have a Project Manager, Advertising Lead, Design Lead and Lead Developer. Undergraduate or graduate students from all journalism interest areas, business and computer science are encouraged to take part.
• The first-round pitch session will occur on Thursday, Feb. 9.  Four finalist teams will be chosen that night. Each finalist team will receive up to $5,000 in expense money. The finalists will also have the opportunity, if they choose, to select 1-2 additional team members from those teams that did not make the final round (or from among other students they know) who can bring needed skills to their project.
• Finalists can choose to sign up for up to three hours of independent study credit, though they are not required to do so.
• Final judging will occur the week of April 23. The winners will be announced as part of RJI Innovation Week (April 23-27).
• The winning team will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City to visit with Hearst executives and take part in a Missouri J-School alumni event.
• Finalist teams will be coached along the way by mentors from Hearst Innovation as well as MU strategic- communications professor Stephanie Padgett; RJI advertising editor Brad Best; RJI graphics editor Reuben Stern; computer-science teaching professor Ryanne Dolan; and RJI futures lab director Mike McKean.

 For more information, contact Mike Mckean at mckeanml@missouri.edu.