SMU commmunications students snapping Academy of Country Music Awards

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DALLAS (SMU) — Four SMU communications students will be on the red carpet and behind the scenes this weekend using social media to cover the Academy of Country Music Awards events at AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Park in Arlington. 

As part of an advanced social media class, "Digital Engagement," seniors Fabiola Castillo, Ellen Handa, Caroline Robinson and Paige Stenberg are collaborating with The Dallas Morning News GuideLive to cover the events on the social media application, Snapchat.

"This is a great opportunity for the students," said Steve Lee, the adjunct professor in communications studies who teaches the class. "Snapchat is a quickly growing channel, particularly among the 20-35 age group, and perfectly suited for many brands."

Students will cover "Party for a Cause" concerts April 17 and 18 at Globe Life Park featuring artists such as Maddie & Tae, Sam Hunt, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Eric Paslay, Cole Swindell, Hunter Hayes and Josh Abbott. 

During the April 19 award ceremony, they will be stationed on the red carpet interviewing country music celebrities with a Dallas Morning News reporter and photographer, then in the media room to snap interviews of award-winners after they accept their awards.

The opportunity is the result of two semesters of research, collaboration and reports. Last semester, Lee's social media class created a proposal on the use of Snapchat to the Dallas Morning News, followed by a more recent proposal on how the News' online Friday entertainment section, GuideLive, could best use Snapchat. The students will put their work into practice at the Academy of Country Music Awards as the GuideLive Snapchat "Street Team."

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