'A crash course in international media'

Through study abroad trip and broadcast in Ireland, K-State students practice international storytelling and leadership

A seasoned producer and member of the Wildcat 91.9 broadcast team, Jon Grove is used to finding and telling stories in front of a mass audience.

But as the mass communications senior and his fellow radio announcers prepare to call a game from Dublin, a college sports broadcast is suddenly turning into a global storytelling experience.

“I’m thinking about how we explain American football to international listeners, how we represent K-State abroad and how culture plays into the way sports are covered," Grove, a Manhattan native, said. "It’s a crash course in international media, live under the lights. There’s no better way to expand your lens than broadcasting 4,000 miles from home.”

News producers at RTE, a partially government-funded news and entertainment channel in Dublin, Ireland, speak with participants in the KSU in Ireland: Sports and Leadership study abroad program. Photos courtesy Andrew Smith.

While the K-State football team prepares to kick off their season at the Aer Lingus College Football Classic at Aviva Stadium, several of their fellow Kansas State University students are also in Dublin, studying sports leadership and preparing to produce a live radio broadcast of the game.

Through a partnership between K-State's A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication and the Staley School of Leadership, students have a unique study abroad opportunity to engage in an interdisciplinary learning experience while benefiting from hands-on experience in media and content creation.

Ireland trip marks Wildcat 91.9's first international broadcast

The KSU in Ireland: Sports and Leadership program includes tours, excursions to Galway and Belfast, and visits to museums and local sites related to the academic courses, and culminates in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, during which some students will be producing a live radio broadcast for Wildcat 91.9.

It will be the first ever international broadcast for Wildcat 91.9 — which marked its 75th anniversary last year and is the longest-operating, student-run college FM station in the country, said Andrew Smith, professor and assistant director of the news and sports media program.

Smith has led many study abroad courses and helped develop this unique opportunity for students in Ireland.

Students in the KSU in Ireland: Sports and Leadership program relax after participating in traditional Irish sports, including Gaelic football, through the Experience Gaelic Games experience at the Sport Ireland Campus in Dublin.

“The station and the students have grown so much in the last few years, and this broadcast will be an outward manifestation of that growth," said Smith, director of Wildcat Electronic Media, which includes the radio station. "The students are eager to take the radio station to new heights, and this broadcast will bring international recognition to them and the station.”

Grove, the senior from Manhattan, will provide color commentary. He will be joined in the broadcast by Jimmy Coffman, senior, Olathe, who will provide additional color commentary, and Adrian Holguin, senior, Wichita, who will cover the play-by-play. Sideline reporting will be done by Sophie Smith, senior, Garden Plain.

“This opportunity will enable many people to hone their craft on a much larger stage,” said Holguin. “I am excited to explore the historic opportunities available at the Aer Lingus Classic.”

Through the KSU in Ireland: Sports and Leadership study abroad program, students were immersed in Irish culture, history and entertainment — all ahead of a K-State football match.

Telling a global story

In addition to the historic broadcast, the students will take courses in sports leadership, taught by leadership associate professor Andrew Wefald, and sports in society, taught by Smith.

The program is a unique opportunity to explore the rich ancient and recent cultural, historical, and communication landscape of Ireland through a blend of hands-on courses, on-the-ground reporting, and collaborative storytelling.

Students participating in the program will collaborate across disciplines to produce original multimedia content that reflects their experiences abroad.

They'll also document cultural traditions, explore community initiatives and investigate topics like sustainability and global leadership — all while they develop their global communication skills.

“International travel and education abroad are two of my passions and creating opportunities to let K-State students experience them is extremely important,” said Smith. “By challenging their own worldview, students can grow and participate in an experience they will remember the rest of their lives.”

Listen to the student's live broadcast of the game 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, by tuning in to 91.9 FM in the Manhattan area or visiting wildcat919.com/listen. iPhone users can also download the Wildcat 91.9 app on the iOS App Store.

For more information on the study abroad initiative, visit the K-State Education Abroad program page or contact the A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication.

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