Neon Tommy

Neon Tommy was a web-only student news publication sponsored and funded by the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism. It launched in spring 2009 as part of the school's Annenberg Media Center and provided students from across the university with a practical environment for reporting, editing, photography, commentary, sports coverage and digital publishing. Unlike USC's Daily Trojan, which was a student-run newspaper, Neon Tommy was supported by the Annenberg School and operated within a faculty- and staff-supervised structure. The publication was designed as both a journalism outlet and an experiential learning platform. Undergraduate and graduate students from multiple disciplines contributed to the site, while Annenberg faculty and staff participated in hiring and supervised the editorial and production process. Its web-first format allowed the publication to cover campus, Los Angeles and broader cultural and public-affairs subjects without the physical distribution model associated with a traditional newspaper. Neon Tommy expanded its digital presence after a redesign in summer 2010. During its active period, the site was reported to attract nearly four million visitors annually from more than 120 countries. Its work was frequently cited or linked by established media outlets, including the Los Angeles Times, L.A. Weekly, LAist, The Huffington Post, Romenesko, Gawker, Yahoo!, CNN and SB Nation. This outside attention helped distinguish the publication from a narrowly campus-focused student outlet and gave contributors exposure to professional digital journalism practices. The publication received substantial recognition for reporting and visual journalism. Its coverage of the local swine-flu crisis earned an L.A. Press Club award in 2010. It received additional L.A. Press Club awards and honorable mentions in subsequent years, including recognition for sports photography, online features, feature writing, sports news, investigative reporting and online news reporting. Its reporting on a 2012 shooting at USC that killed two graduate students was recognized by the Online News Association. Neon Tommy contributors and articles were also acknowledged by national entertainment-journalism programs and the Society of Professional Journalists. In 2015, Neon Tommy moved its production offices from the west wing of the Annenberg School into the Julie Chen/Les Moonves & CBS Media Center in Wallis Annenberg Hall, sharing facilities with Annenberg TV News and Annenberg Radio News. That same academic year, principal founder and faculty director Marc Cooper announced his retirement. The site ended its digital publication in 2015, concluding a six-year run as a USC-supported student media operation. Its alumni later worked in professional journalism and media organizations including the Los Angeles Times, Voice of San Diego, The Atlantic, Yahoo News and Time Inc.

Neon Tommy was established in spring 2009 as an online student publication sponsored by USC's Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism. It formed part of the Annenberg Media Center and was intended to provide students with practical experience in digital reporting, editing and publication management. Contributors came from undergraduate and graduate programs and from different academic disciplines. Although students produced much of the editorial work, Annenberg faculty and staff handled hiring decisions and supervised the publication process. The publication adopted a web-only model at a time when university journalism programs were increasingly using digital outlets as laboratories for multimedia and real-time reporting. A redesign in summer 2010 marked an early development in its presentation and digital identity. During its operation, Neon Tommy reported or was described as reaching nearly four million visitors each year across more than 120 countries. Its articles were linked by a range of regional and national media organizations, including the Los Angeles Times, L.A. Weekly, LAist, The Huffington Post, Romenesko, Gawker, Yahoo!, CNN and SB Nation. Its editorial work covered campus events, local news, public affairs, sports, arts, entertainment, photography and opinion. Recognition from the L.A. Press Club began with reporting on the local swine-flu crisis in 2010. The publication earned further awards in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, with honors spanning online features, sports photography, feature writing, sports news, investigative reporting and online news reporting. Its coverage of an April 2012 USC shooting that killed two graduate students was recognized by the Online News Association. Other work reached finalist status in national entertainment-journalism competitions, while the Society of Professional Journalists recognized the publication in 2015. In 2015, Neon Tommy relocated its production offices from the west wing of the Annenberg School to the Julie Chen/Les Moonves & CBS Media Center in Wallis Annenberg Hall. The move placed it alongside USC Annenberg's television and radio student news operations. Marc Cooper, identified as the publication's principal founder and faculty director, retired at the end of the 2014–2015 academic year. Neon Tommy ended its digital publication in 2015 after approximately six years. Its alumni subsequently entered professional media careers at organizations including the Los Angeles Times, Voice of San Diego, The Atlantic, Yahoo News and Time Inc.

• 2015

  Office relocation and publication closure

  [1]Neon Tommyen.wikipedia.org

  The operation moves into Wallis Annenberg Hall's CBS Media Center, Marc Cooper retires as faculty director, and the publication ends digital operations.

• 2012

  Major award year and campus-shooting coverage

  [1]Neon Tommyen.wikipedia.org

  Neon Tommy receives 10 L.A. Press Club awards and recognition from the Online News Association for its coverage of a deadly USC campus shooting.

• 2010

  Digital redesign and first reported L.A. Press Club award

  [1]Neon Tommyen.wikipedia.org

  The website receives a redesign and earns an L.A. Press Club award for coverage of the local swine-flu crisis.

• 2009

  Launch of Neon Tommy

  [1]Neon Tommyen.wikipedia.org

  The online student publication launches through USC's Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism and the Annenberg Media Center.

A university-funded, web-first student journalism publication combining public-facing digital news coverage with professional training for USC undergraduate and graduate contributors.

• Digital news publication · 2009

  Neon Tommy online publication

  The core Neon Tommy website published student-produced reporting on USC, Los Angeles and wider cultural and public-interest topics. Its editorial output included news, investigative work, sports, photography, arts and entertainment, features, commentary and other forms of online journalism. The site functioned simultaneously as a public news outlet and a supervised training environment for USC students.

• 2015

  Relocation into the CBS Media CenterStrategy

  Background

  USC Annenberg consolidated student media operations in Wallis Annenberg Hall.

  Action taken

  Neon Tommy moved its production offices from the Annenberg School's west wing into the Julie Chen/Les Moonves & CBS Media Center, alongside Annenberg TV News and Annenberg Radio News.

  Aftermath

  The move occurred during the publication's final year, before its digital publication ended in 2015.

  Source

1. 1Neon Tommyen.wikipedia.org