BusinessEducationUniversity-Led Reporting Lets Students Cover the Statehouse

University-Led Reporting Lets Students Cover the Statehouse

-

- Advertisment -sslate

Student reporters are stepping up to fill gaps in news coverage as the number of full-time statehouse reporters continues to decline.

State legislatures handle important matters, including educational standards and access to health care, but increasingly it is students working with university-led reporting programs who are making sure the stories get the coverage they deserve.

Richard Watts, founder of the Center for Community News at the University of Vermont, said students are working under the direction of veteran reporters and bringing fresh perspectives to the job.

“Students want to do real things these days,” Watts observed. “They really don’t appreciate writing papers that go anywhere when they could actually write something that people read and has an impact.”

University-Led Reporting

More than 10% of statehouse reporters are now students, mainly from public colleges and universities. Watts noted he hopes more private universities will use their vast resources to ensure their students get this type of on-the-job training, and communities get the news they need.

Research shows the loss of local news coverage has real impacts on local communities: decreasing civic engagement and voter turnout, and increasing costs for municipal governments.

Watts argued local news is vital to a thriving democracy.

“Without local news, people turn to these competing ideological news sources, and it leads to increased polarization,” Watts contended.

Watts added public colleges and universities are fulfilling their public service missions by helping their students fill local news gaps for media outlets, which continue to downsize due to the loss of ad revenue.

The Center for Community News has documented more than 100 university-led reporting programs so far across the U.S.

Support for this reporting was provided by The Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Sunshine Slate
Sunshine Slatehttps://www.sunshineslate.com
Sunshine Slate is your news, entertainment, music fashion website. We provide you with the latest breaking news and videos straight from the United States of America.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Latest news

The FPA issues guidance on packaging claiming to be ‘plastic-free’

The Foodservice Packaging Association (FPA) has issued guidance to address the claims made by producers of ‘plastic-free’ packaging.

Possible Solutions to deal with rising USA Inflation

This article discusses the causes and possible solutions to deal with rising USA inflation.

Redefining Professional Spaces: The Rise of Dual-Purpose Backyard Office Sheds in America

The American Dream Reimagined: Backyards Transforming into Profitable Workspaces

The Ultimate Fighter 31: McGregor vs. Chandler: The Battle Begins

The Ultimate Fighter 31 is set to premiere on ESPN+ on June 6, 2023, and it is sure to be a must-watch for fans of mixed martial arts.
- Advertisement -

Florida Faces Lawsuits Over Sweeping New Elections Law

The moment Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a sweeping elections bill into law last week, several voter-advocacy groups filed lawsuits against it.

U.S. House Votes to Rescind Student Debt-Relief Program

A new report outlined the importance of student debt relief to workers in New York and across the country.
edealo.com
- Advertisement - Motel 6
transformerscon

Must read

Best Apps for your New Mobile Phone

We can install any app from the google play store very quickly. Let’s take a look at some most amazing apps for android mobile phones.

Survivors Call for Monument in Honor of Fallen Heroes

Congress is moving forward with plans to build the monument to honor the 3,600 Americans who have earned the nation's highest award for valor in combat.
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -sslate

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you