Langston University has been gifted ownership of the former KWTV Oklahoma City building by KWTV’s parent company, Griffin Media.
KWTV, known as News 9, moved to a downtown location in mid-November. Langston officially took possession of the building on January 3.
Next TV reports that the TV station will be the home of Langston’s Center for Media and Community Advancement.
“If we abandon this building, there is going to be a hole in this community, and we just did not want to leave this community alone,” David Griffin, Griffin Media chairman and CEO, said in a statement. “So, we went on a search to see how we could be a part of something bigger than ourselves. And then it just dawned on me, Langston has a journalism program.”
“There is an entire business behind news production,” Langston University president Kent J. Smith said. “From computer technology to marketing and sales, our students will have the benefit of learning here. Now we can think of Oklahoma City and our Oklahoma City campus in an entirely different realm that we just could not before.”
KWTV talent will teach classes and mentor students at Langston.
“If you’re looking for something to believe in that will fundamentally change not only Langston University but journalism as a whole there is no doubt in my mind that this is it,” Smith said. “If you cannot get excited about that I do not know what gets you excited.”
