Ashley Creech

The Challenge: Reimagining Campus News in a Remote World

When COVID-19 forced campuses to close, student publications like the Husky Herald faced a sudden loss of physical distribution. With no foot traffic or in-person events, our traditional newspaper model was disrupted overnight. Determined to keep the campus connected, I saw a path forward: transitioning the Husky Herald to a fully digital format on WordPress, allowing us to maintain our mission and reach students in new ways.

The Underlying Issues

• Loss of Physical Reach: The paper’s audience, usually reached through campus distribution, was now remote and scattered.
• Engagement Shift: Moving online required more than just a website; we needed a cohesive content strategy to keep students engaged in a virtual environment.
• Resource Constraints: With limited technical resources, the transition needed to be efficient, adaptable, and user-friendly.

The Solution: Strategic Digital Relaunch on WordPress

Using WordPress, I led the transition from print to digital by building a responsive, accessible website that aligned with our audience’s needs. I developed a content strategy to maintain the Husky Herald’s voice and engage readers with relevant, timely content. This included migrating existing articles, structuring content for easy navigation, and creating a new digital-first publishing process that allowed us to update the site regularly and grow our reach beyond campus.

How I Helped

• Platform Setup & Design: Configured and customized a WordPress site to create a seamless, professional online reading experience, integrating news sections, multimedia, and social media feeds.
• Content Strategy Development: Designed a digital content strategy that included regular publishing schedules, social media integration, and reader engagement tactics.
• Content Migration & Organization: Transferred archives from print to digital, structuring categories and tags to create an intuitive, searchable experience.
• Ongoing Content Management: Established new processes for digital-first article creation, editing, and publication, ensuring consistent, timely updates that kept our readership engaged.

The Outcome

The Husky Herald’s digital transformation allowed it to thrive even in a remote learning environment. The new online format reached students across different platforms, expanding accessibility and engagement. This transition not only maintained but revitalized the Husky Herald’s role as a vital campus news source, positioning it for long-term success in the digital landscape.