A billboard boast

A large billboard touting the UA journalism department's international focus is getting attention around Tucson.

The billboard was donated by UA alumnus Manny Molina, founder and publisher of Latino Future magazine, in partnership with Clear Channel Outdoor. It includes the phrase "Exploring Borders in the Information Age" as well as the department's Web address.

"It's something of a double meaning," says Jacqueline Sharkey, journalism department head. "You can view borders as geographic boundaries -- and we certainly cover the border as evidenced by our students' work with El Independiente, the Epitaph and in our online publications, such as Border Beat.

"But 'borders' also refers to the idea of pushing the envelope -- or the borders -- of how we teach and learn about journalism. Students are learning journalism isn't just putting pen to paper. It's about offering reporting, editing and visual communication classes to train students to work across multiple media platforms."

The billboard's location rotates. It has been at Broadway Boulevard and Camino Seco on Tucson's east side, on South Sixth Avenue, just north of Ajo Way, and most recently, on the north side of Tanque Verde Road, between Pima Street and Wilmot Road.

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