Redevelopment of Norris University Center’s East Lawn to begin this summer
April 5, 2024
CHICAGO --- A new television series called “BTN LiveBig” will shine a spotlight on Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q) and the students bringing stories from the Middle East to the rest of the world and on a journalism-led online network that brings to life stories of Chicago immigrants.
The Northwestern episode will air at 11 p.m. Feb. 20.
Debuted earlier this winter, “BTN LiveBig” shifts the focus from the playing field to the world stage, where Northwestern and other Big Ten institutions also receive great recognition.
“BTN LiveBig” is the second Big Ten Network (BTN) collaborative campus program series produced with the Big Ten Conference and its 12 universities.
During an important time in Middle Eastern history, viewers will get an interesting glimpse of NU-Q, opened in 2008 in partnership with the Qatar Foundation. Amid tears, cheers and standing ovations, the first class from Northwestern’s first international branch campus graduated last May, earning Bachelor of Science degrees in journalism and communication. NU-Q alumni earned their degrees during the Arab Spring and are now making their mark in the Middle East and around the world.
Immigrant Connect, an online network providing news and information for immigrants, refugees and their communities, was developed by journalism professor Jack Doppelt and his students. Students collect stories reported by local Chicago-area ethnic media, translate them and disseminate them throughout other immigrant communities. Immigrant Connect also offers a place on its site for people to tell their own stories and connect with others.
BTN is co-producing the series with Chicago-based TeamWorks Media, a creative content company that specializes in producing inspirational stories and also produced “Impact the World,” the first Big Ten Network collaborative campus program series.
Since the network launched in 2007, BTN has aired programs produced from each Big Ten university under the University Showcase heading.
