JMC students in Dr. Marcie Hinton’s Content Creation class have partnered with the Murray Convention and Visitors Bureau in launching a travel website for all that Western Kentucky has to offer.
The website, dubbed “Postcards From the Brink,” provides information to the public about everything from attractions and events to traditions and dine-ins located in Murray, Paducah, and other cities in the area.
“Tourism, especially in small communities, provides a great deal of economic growth,” Hinton said. “The bigger the digital footprint of travel and tourism information, the more people you can reach. And that is what we are trying to do: see how our public relations work can make an economic impact.”
The student-run online publication includes blog posts, podcasts and other multimedia content. Hinton’s students have partnered with Erin Carrico, executive director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, to add an element of expertise and professionalism to the website that Hinton and her students believe will elevate the experience to the next level.
“I wanted a class project that would give students the opportunity to publish material and partner with professionals in public relations,” Hinton said. “Anything you can do to get students off campus and into the community the better the education for the students and the more enriched the community can become.”
Postcards From the Brink officially launched on Wednesday, April 27. The first publications revolved around first-person accounts from the students covering their favorite places in western Kentucky and what makes them special.
Other projects in the works include podcasts detailing historical establishments in western Kentucky Dr. Hinton’s students feel the need to bring to the public. One such podcast outlines the work the CVB does for the city of Murray, showcasing Postcards From the Brink’s goals on a more industrial scale.
