Students from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communications will provide election coverage from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Nov. 5 in video, audio and written format.
Students from the SMART-Lab, KRNU-FM, Nebraska Nightly, Nebraska News Service and Production House of the Andersen Hall Experience Lab will offer in-depth election updates throughout the evening.
The college will receive election results directly from the Nebraska Secretary of State’s office and report on state initiatives, along with information about significant local and statewide races. Nebraska Nightly will begin coverage at 7:30 p.m. and KRNU-FM will begin coverage at 8 p.m.
Nebraska Nightly can be viewed live on YouTube and LNKTV Education.
The Social and traditional Media Analytics and Research Tools Lab will enable students to understand what’s on the minds of Nebraskans in a whole new way, said to Valerie Jones, associate professor and co-director of the SMARTLab.
“They’ll be using cutting-edge software to monitor real-time conversations in social media, digging into reactions to poll conditions and early results, identifying key topics and sentiment related to candidates and issues, and more,” Jones said.
Additionally, more than 30 photography students will provide comprehensive photographic coverage across the state, documenting the election process and various watch parties.
Students in the college’s Mosaic class, which is a course that reports on and for Lincoln’s refugee communities, will also be interviewing new Americans in Omaha and Lincoln to gauge their reactions to voting — some for the first time. Their stories and photos of them will be shared throughout election day on Nebraska News Service.
Livia Ziskey, Macy Byars and Josie Golka will coordinate the Nebraska News Service’s live blog throughout the night. Additionally, Alaina Tomesh is helping to launch NNS Now, a livestream social media program, as part of the Nebraska News Service’s ongoing news and promotional coverage. Jacob Schrantz will promote CoJMC election coverage on social media throughout the evening.
“This event provides CoJMC students with an invaluable hands-on learning opportunity and immerses them into the real-world, providing them with experiences that go beyond the classroom,” said Jill Martin, associate professor of practice and co-director of the Experience Lab. “The experience offers students the chance to develop and refine their skills in journalism, broadcasting, advertising, public relations, multimedia production and communications while actively engaging in one of the most important democratic processes—elections.”
Elizabeth Theiss-Morse and Kevin Smith, professors of political science, will be offering analysis throughout the radio and television coverage.
More than 70 students are expected to be involved on election night, making it a collaborative university endeavor.
