Drexel University has taken writing and radio to another level.
Dragonfire is an online interactive publication created at the Philadelphia university that works with established journalists from all over the world. DU students create the graphic and flash elements for the online magazine.
The idea for Dragonfire came about when Mark Greenberg, dean of the Pennoni Honors College at Drexel, wanted to use the Internet instead of paper for a university publication.
Besides being cheaper, Drexel prides itself on using technology to advance artist culture, said Greenberg.
``It's something akin to the `New Yorker,' only completely online so we could produce something that can be used worldwide,'' he said. ``We wanted to build an interactivity participation of the listener and reader to distinguish the magazine.''
Amy L. Webb, editor-in-chief of Dragonfire, was brought in by Drexel to create the online publication, which launched last July.
Before working at Drexel and creating Dragonfire, she was overseas for seven years and believed newspapers were not utilizing the Web.
``I wanted to develop something that would do more for online journalism,'' Webb said. ``We created a committee and brainstormed for digital journalism to come alive.''
The magazine covers broad issues, including foreign policy and poetry, which is covered in the next issue. But Dragonfire does not focus on campus life at Drexel University.
While the university funds it and students create the multimedia side to the magazine, it is not the student newspaper.
Dragonfire instead offers stories to readers that enable them to interact on the Web site.
``There is a traditional student paper already,'' said Rachel Buchman, managing editor for Dragonfire. ``We're covering issues that are off-campus and provide change for students to know about issues outside of campus.''And while students don't write the stories published, they still have strong input on how the stories are created and constructed.
The students involved are receiving experience that most college students might not otherwise receive so early in life.
An outgrowth of the magazine is Dragonfire Radio, a streaming station featuring selections from the collections of editors and contributors as well as the audio content from the magazine.
Will Muto, senior multimedia designer and Sarah Ruddy, interactive media team leader, built Dragonfire Radio.
Both Muto and Ruddy are junior digital media students at Drexel University and have to create the radio station, which was launched just two weeks ago.
``A couple of students are up for National Journalism Student awards and can't even legally drink yet,'' Webb said. ``I remember being Sarah's age and trying to get a gig interning and covering Easter egg hunts.''
``Amy stressed the need for using new types of technology to push stories,'' Muto said. ``The radio is a way to use another type of interactive technology to connect with our readers.''
Since the radio station has only been available for a couple of weeks, it still has room to grow. Dragonfire radio will contain music as well as audio clips from the magazine.
To create the radio, Muto and Ruddy used streaming technology from a free server available online. They set up a machine in the office at the university and after ``a lot of late nights, we got it running,'' Muto said.
``I think what we're really trying to do with the radio is be on the forefront of being innovative with technology,'' he said. ``The technology is out there and the creative aspects are limitless.''
Rick Alloway, assistant professor of broadcasting at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, sees the Web as providing interesting opportunities for things like Dragonfire Radio, but doesn't know if UNL is planning anything similar.
``It's a very cool concept but one thing I know is the struggle for a lot of sites like this is: How do you keep stuff going?'' he asked. ``Keeping a station up and running whether it's online or broadcast, is a tremendous commitment of hours.''
Both Dragonfire Radio and the Dragonfire online publication give people the chance to explore new ways of becoming involved with the news.
With many Internet publications just transferring the paper version to the screen, Dragonfire moves above and beyond the norm.
``We don't just give the story to someone to read anymore,'' said Muto. ``We can immerse them and get them involved.''
