As summer fades and fall begins to bloom, the bees are buzzing with excitement for a fresh and thrilling new school year at St. Ambrose University. With numerous changes and renovations taking place over the summer, students are eager to discover what the year ahead holds.
One of the biggest changes this summer is the very website you’re reading right now! The new editorial staff for The Hive Student Media Hub and “The Buzz” student newspaper took on the exciting challenge of redesigning and modernizing the site.
Leading the charge on this project are Sydnee Horstman, Addie Hendrick, Ellie Seberger, and Annaliese Bowser — the new student editors members ready to bring fresh energy and vision to student media.
Faculty Praise the Redesign
The Hive website redesign has sparked excitement among St. Ambrose University’s Communication & Digital Media faculty.
The project, a collaboration between faculty, students, and Twin State Technical Services IT firm, transformed the platform into a multimedia hub showcasing student work across written stories, podcasts, and videos.
Greg Armstrong, Operations Manager for SAUtv, said he’s “really pleased” with the effort and impressed by how the site integrates different storytelling formats.
“It’s easy to create a story with written word and visual stories all in one,” he noted, adding that the site will help students showcase their work to campus and potential employers.
One of the standout features is the student-centered design. Each media outlet—”The Buzz” newspaper, KALA-FM radio, and SAUtv—has its own landing page that explains who they are and how students can get involved.
Contributors also receive personalized pages to display their work, creating unique individualistic portfolios.
Jordan Franks, production specialist and broadcast instructor, emphasizes how the redesign highlights the team’s collaboration with IT professionals and the many hours spent planning.
“The new website looks fantastic,” Franks said, “and it clearly showcases the latest content from each platform front and center.”
Faculty also see The Hive as a tool to attract prospective students, engage alumni, and raise St. Ambrose’s profile among peer institutions.
“It’s important that our students are given the tools they need to create a strong portfolio,” Franks added. “Our graduates will stand out because they can say, ‘I was a part of that.’”
Media and Public Relations Professor Elizabeth Lareau, who is the Staff Advisor for The Hive and The Buzz, describes the redesign as “a vast improvement” that reflects the quality of education communications students receive at SAU. “The platform functions as a real-time news outlet where students manage content and tell stories across various media platforms.”
Lareau also stresses the importance of digital storytelling in today’s complex world.
“The Hive and its newspaper, television and radio platforms demand that our students ask questions, write stories, and find their voices in an integrated media culture. Students learn how effective storytelling can connect us to our community and have those important conversations on issues to build common ground.”
The redesigned site ultimately guides SAU students with the tools to build strong, professional portfolios, preparing them to stand out in a competitive job market and make meaningful contributions through their work.
Meet the New Editorial Staff
Editor in Chief of The Buzz Student
E-Newspaper & Photographer
Editor in Chief of
The Hive Student Media Hub
Assistant Editor in Chief of The Buzz Student
E-Newspaper & Photographer
Assistant Editor in Chief of
The Hive Student Media Hub
With this new platform, The Hive Student Media Hub is set to become the heart of SAU’s student storytelling — a vibrant, bold space where creativity, learning, and community come together like never before.
