Helping TXST Athletics show off new football locker room in 360

September 14, 2016

daleblas

The Texas State University Athletics Department is showing off its sparkling, brand-new football locker room – and asked for the help of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication to do so.Athletics contacted the SJMC to assist with 360-degree photos and videos to highlight the new facility on social media.“Creating interesting content is a great way for us to get that interaction with the Bobcat fan, and 360-degree photos and videos are some of the newest forms of media to utilize on Facebook and YouTube,” said John McElfresh, the assistant director of marketing, promotions and video for Athletics. “SJMC continues to operate on the edge of technology and prepares students by exposing them to real world experiences and equipment, so it was an easy decision to reach out and see if they could help and educate us in this venture.”SJMC senior lecturer Jon Zmikly, who heads the 360-degree photo and video efforts for the School, visited the new locker room this past Sunday for a photo and video shoot.“The process was impressively quick,” McElfresh said. “Jon shot the video and did his magic and had it to us within a few hours. The quality of the photo and videos was great.”Changes in the football locker room include replacing 15-year-old lockers, which were funded with private donations. The new lockers include: Keypad-locking mechanism Electricity for phone chargers A ventilated shoulder pad rack and compartment Custom maroon, padded seating Brushed steel branded hooks An LED-lit Supercat Custom name plates for each playerThe 360-degree photo was posted to Facebook later that afternoon and has been a huge hit with Bobcat fans. https://www.facebook.com/TXSTATEFOOTBALL/photos/a.205293086165796.64017.192386660789772/1352195498142210/?type=3&theater “The post reached nearly 40,000 Bobcat fans in less than 24 hours on Facebook,” McElfresh said. “That kind of exposure will open up more opportunities for interaction in future posts and help spread that Texas State pride.”