Nevada journalism students to provide election coverage and real-time updates

With the eyes of the nation on  Nevada, one of nation’s “battleground” states in the 2012 presidential election, journalism students at the University of Nevada, Reno, with their professors, will provide election-related news and real-time updates from Washoe County. Print, video, photos, packages, interviews and updates will be available free of charge, with proper attribution, to media throughout the country at http://journalism.unr.edu/election/.

“Our primary focus is providing a real-world learning experience for our students,” said Al Stavitsky, dean of the University’s Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism and Center for Advanced Media Studies. “However, given our students’ abilities and our faculty’s experience, we’re confident that we’ll produce interesting, substantive journalism. By making it available to media, the Reynolds School can play a role in the democratic process.”

The School’s students are producing packages that will be available at the website, including a piece on the state’s pivotal Hispanic vote and a “269” civics lesson on what happens in the event of an electoral tie. Both packages will include perspective from national subject experts, including Emma Sepulveda, Latino Research Center director at the University, and Eric Herzik, chair of the University’s political science department and often-quoted political pundit. Tuesday evening, the students will provide additional packaged content – print, audio and video – along with live updates from the School and throughout the County.

WHO: Students and faculty at the Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism and Center for Advanced Media Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno

WHAT: Election night news coverage provided free of charge to media with attribution given to the student journalist(s) and the “Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism and Center for Advanced Media Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno.”

WHEN: Nov. 6, beginning at 5 p.m., PST

WHERE: Students will be based in newsrooms at the Reynolds School of Journalism building on the University of Nevada, Reno campus, reporting from throughout Washoe County, Nev.

WHY: To provide a meaningful real-world learning experience for students and contribute to the democratic process by providing election night news and information.

ELECTION NIGHT CONTACT: Al Stavitsky, 541-912-9295 or [email protected].