NIU is continuing to expand its already large web presence. On Aug. 23, Media Relations and Internal Communications (MRIC) officially launched its new information and news blog, NIU Today at today.niu.edu.

NIU Today was developed by a combined effort of MRIC and Web Communications as a way to communicate news and information directly to NIU faculty, staff and subscribers.

The two communication teams converged to create the new blog to replace Northern Today, a weekly sent e-mail newsletter with important news about faculty and staff.

“The only issue [with Northern Today] was that it was once a week and it was e-mailed,” said Brad Hoey, MRIC Team Leader.

He, along with web project manager Rachel Xidis, fronted the development of NIU Today and wanted to create a website that would show a snapshot of NIU’s faculty and staff news.

Hoey said the website could also work with niu.edu and NIU’s Facebook account to alert users to emergency and other pertinent information on campus.

Weekly updates on faculty and staff news are still available, though. NIU Today will continue to send out weekly e-mails to subscribers on Wednesday with four to five of the top stories, he said.

Sophomore accounting major Mark Parkinson and senior psychology major Jonathan Guca didn’t know that NIU Today or Northern Today existed.

Parkinson said he wouldn’t go out of his way to view this website and would most likely subscribe to the e-mail if it was easy enough.

“If you really wanted to be involved with the faculty it would probably be helpful,” Guca said after hearing what the website offers.

“I would subscribe to the e-mail. It would be easier than having to keep checking the website.”

The website may change over time and as the reader needs it.

“Like many blogs and other websites, this will continue to evolve,” Hoey said.

The content on the website is maintained and written by people in the Division of University Relations, he said.

However, people from all aspects of campus contribute news and information to the website, diversifying the information displayed.

Parkinson said he wouldn’t go out of his way to view this website and would most likely subscribe to the e-mail if it was easy enough.

“If you really wanted to be involved with the faculty it would probably be helpful,” Guca said after hearing what the website offers. “I would subscribe to the e-mail. It would be easier than having to keep checking the website.”

The website may change over time and as the reader needs it.

“Like many blogs and other websites, this will continue to evolve,” Hoey said.

The content on the website is maintained and written by people in the Division of University Relations, he said. However, people from all aspects of campus contribute news and information to the website, diversifying the information displayed.