Fairfield University and Connecticut Public have announced a new partnership designed to provide opportunities for Fairfield students to learn from and work alongside talented television, radio, and digital journalists — many of whom will be based on campus. The partnership will also expand access to public media content in Fairfield County across television, radio, and digital platforms.

Connecticut Public, home to Connecticut Public Television (CPTV) and Connecticut Public Radio (WNPR), will provide several Fairfield University student internship opportunities. With the University’s new Arts & Sciences Guarantee, a distinctive fellowship which provides up to $2500 in support to each student who secures an approved unpaid internship, this new partnership will offer practical, real-world experiences to Fairfield students, and will fulfill Connecticut Public’s mission to train the next generation of media professionals.

“As we move forward on the path to national prominence — innovating our academic programs while introducing scores of new programs and learning modalities — we continue to leverage our investment in the digital media space and develop more industry partnerships with organizations such as Connecticut Public, to reach broader audiences and elevate our student experience with hands-on career opportunities,” said Fairfield University President Mark R. Nemec, PhD.

Connecticut Public will have an on-campus presence in Fairfield University’s new state-of-the-art Media Center, providing organized and ad hoc opportunities to connect with working media professionals through special events and job shadowing.

“As Fairfield University expands its offerings in communication, digital journalism, and sports media, we are excited for this new partnership with Connecticut Public,” said College of Arts and Sciences Dean Richard Greenwald, PhD. “Fairfield’s newly renovated Media Center offers a variety of professional studio spaces and production equipment, including a video production and screening room, animation and graphic design software, post-production suites for editing, coloring, and sound mixing, and a large mobile satellite uplink production truck.”

The new partnership includes a content distribution agreement for WVOF 88.5, which will broadcast weekly top of the hour newscasts from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., in addition to Morning Edition and All Things Considered “drive time” news programs, and Connecticut Public’s daily and weekday talk shows, including Where We Live, The Colin McEnroe Show, Disrupted, Audacious, and Seasoned. Fairfield University will also provide occasional use of the WVOF studio to Connecticut Public for special radio broadcasts. This agreement allows uninterrupted coverage on 88.5 FM to consumers from Greenwich to Bridgeport.

Connecticut Public President and CEO, Mark Contreras said, “Our partnership with Fairfield University represents an important opportunity for Connecticut Public to expand our public service mission to the citizens of Fairfield County, while also providing practical experience and support for the next generation of journalists and storytellers. We are committed to telling the local stories of all of the communities of Fairfield County in ways we’ve never been able to before, and we are thrilled to be partnering with Fairfield University.”

About Connecticut Public
Connecticut Public is home to Connecticut Public Television (CPTV) and Connecticut Public Radio (WNPR).Together, Connecticut Public serves nearly one million citizens each month through Connecticut Public Radio and Connecticut Public Television, as well as through our many digital and online platforms. Through our mission to inform, educate and inspire the people of Connecticut, we connect people of all ages to high-quality journalism, storytelling, education and experiences, and amplify the voices of our diverse communities. Connecticut Public is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, with a $22 million annual budget, funded primarily through community support from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors.