So, you’re sick of checking your e-mail, nothing new is happening on Facebook and you really feel like putting off that 60-page reading assignment for a few more minutes. What is a poor college student to do?
Check out the new webpage HotNewz.TV.
HotNewz, which launched on Jan. 21, is aimed for audiences between the ages of 18 and 26. The site provides an overview of all the biggest news stories, as well as what’s happening in sports, entertainment and technology. The site also has segments dispensing advice on topics ranging from finances and career planning to relationships.
HotNewz even features clips from “The Colbert Report” and “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” to add a comedic touch.
All of this is delivered to audiences on average of a little less than 10 minutes.
Through a partnership with The University Network, HotNewz is already reaching 30 percent of college students, with its programs being shown on LCD screens at more than 250 colleges and universities nationwide, including Saint Louis University.
In an interview, Phillip Anastos, CEO of Anastos Interactive Media and creator of HotNewz, went more indepth about the new website and news network.
Anastos, along with the writers and producers of HotNewz, works with Comedy Central, as well as publications such as Inc. Magazine, to bring viewers stories from various people who are in the know.
Anastos said that the site “is a work in progress,” and compares it to the mid 1940s, when all of the major networks were getting their start.
Anastos, whose father Ernie Anastos is a famous television reporter in New York and whose grandfather worked in radio, clearly believes that the Internet is the next major step in communicating information.
“The future is online, after the dot com phase,” Anastos said. “Dot TV is something new and a lot of people want this to be successful.”
“For the college audience, video on the Internet is where they seek information,” Anastos said.
Anastos is trying to offer as much to students as possible. With HotNewz, one can embed videos onto social networking sites and access the program 24 hours a day, with the option of getting extended stories in areas of interest. The site is aimed to be as interactive and user-friendly as possible and is doing a good job of achieving those goals after just a few weeks of existence.
However, running the site takes a lot of work, which is why HotNewz employs several Emmy-award-winning writers and producers in addition to the student work on the site.
“Some stories are student produced . and our staff critiques and gives suggestions for improvement.” Anastos said. “Talent agents also watch the shows and give feedback, [and] we even offer awards and scholarships for the [student] work.”
Anastos and the HotNewz staff are up for new ideas regarding the well-being of the site.
“Feedback is huge,” Anastos said. “We are always looking for new segments . amazing creativity is coming out of the schools.”
He hopes that using feedback from the students will make the program able to be enjoyed and related to by thousands of students around the world.
“Our goal is to have students feel that it’s their place, a good resource for them,” Anastos said.
With more than 250 colleges and universities using the program, the Internet-television hybrid looks to be on its way to just that.
