Journalism, Computer Science Students Showcase iPhone and iPad App Creations

The University of Texas at Austin School of Journalism invites public to UT Apps Demo Day on April 26

AUSTIN, Texas – April 14, 2014 – Students from The University of Texas at AustinMoody College of Communication’s Mobile News App Design course will showcase their iPhone and iPad app creations to the public and a panel of judges from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 26 in the second-floor auditorium of the Belo Center for New Media, 300 W. Dean Keeton St.

Co-taught by School of Journalism senior lecturer Robert Quigley, adjunct lecturer Jeff Linwood and journalism graduate student Qian Wang, the course divided students into five teams, each consisting of journalism and computer science majors. The course's objective was to teach students how to be well-rounded developers and entrepreneurs, preparing them for a shifting media landscape.

"These students don't know what's impossible, which makes them risk-takers and innovators," Quigley said. "I love the way these students dream up an idea and just make it happen through hard work and teamwork. The people who are coming to our Demo Day are going to be surprised at how much these students accomplished in a few short months."

Journalism students learned code, while computer science students learned more about the journalism industry. Teams pitched, designed, coded and marketed their apps through blog posts and social media. By the end of the semester, Quigley said he expects all five teams to submit their apps to Apple iTunes’ app store.

Apps include:

  • Game Plan, an app that helps sports fans find tailgates and food and drink specials 

  • Sono, an app that allows users to bookmark, edit and organize audio
  • WeatherVain, an app that helps people dress for the weather
  • Newt, an app that recreates the morning paper for the iPhone
  • intELECT, an app that helps create more informed voters

For more information, visit http://utapps.com.

Students will present their apps to a panel of judges, including R.B. Brenner, incoming director of the Moody College School of Journalism; Brantley Essary, front-end engineer with the Advisory Board Company; Debbie Hiott, executive editor of The Austin American-Statesman; Will Hurley, co-founder of Austin's Chaotic Moon Studios; Joshua McClure, an Austin entrepreneur; Lynette Perkins, a software engineer; Russell Wilson, director of IBM's Mobile Innovation Lab; and Fred Zipp, former editor of The Austin American-Statesman.

In the fall of 2014, the School of Journalism will offer a similar class – Introduction to Mobile Programming for Journalists. The course will prepare journalism students for Mobile News App Design, which will be offered in the spring of 2015.

About The University of Texas at Austin Moody College of Communication

One of the nation's foremost institutions for the study of advertising and public relations, communication sciences and disorders, communication studies, journalism and radio-TV-film, The University of Texas at Austin Moody College of Communication is preparing students to thrive in an era of media convergence. Serving more than 4,700 undergraduate and graduate students, Moody College is nationally recognized for its faculty members, research and student media. For more information about the Moody College of Communication, visit http://moody.utexas.edu.

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Contacts: Laura Byerley, (512) 471-2182; Robert Quigley, (512) 471-0030.

Marc Speir
Senior Content Producer