New studio puts CI in the spotlight

The College of Communication and Information, in partnership with University of Kentucky Athletics and JMI Sports, in October 2024 officially opened its state-of-the-art downtown studio and production space near Rupp Arena, inside Lexington’s Central Bank Center. The first students will begin classes in the new CI studio in January 2025.

“This facility places CI at the center of the action, literally, in UK’s sports broadcasting, media rights and production activities,” said Dean Jennifer Greer. “It also will fundamentally change the way we teach skills, research and theory because students will be working in a ‘teaching hospital’ model, learning from professionals working on broadcasts for ESPN and the SEC Network, as well as those working on NIL opportunities and sports promotion.”

The 20,000-square-foot facility allows CI students and faculty to work alongside media rights and athletics professionals to learn production, traditional broadcast and social media studio work, podcasting, filmmaking and other audio and video work for news, entertainment, sports and promotional purposes. The new CI space also has a dedicated newsroom/classroom flex space, conference rooms, offices and research areas, which will benefit all CI students, staff and faculty.