On Midterm Election Day, Howard University’s Department of Media, Journalism and Film brought election coverage to life in real time.
Student journalists, faculty and volunteers took over studios and production spaces at WHUT, Howard’s PBS station, to deliver digital, audio and video stories, along with a live newscast.
NewsVision reporter Brandon Horton takes us behind the scenes of the Bison Election Zone to explore what made the day so impactful.
Being in Washington DC, the nation’s capital, politics, especially during election season, is a big deal. At Howard University, student journalists participated in Bison Election Zone. These student journalists were up at the crack of dawn covering races in the nation’s capital and across the nation. What did they think about this experience?
“I think the biggest takeaway from today is that I think just the energy you feel around this election. um seeing people go out to vote, young and old. Um and also just really the importance of keeping going, keep right now like the experience is great.”
“Uh as I expected really, I think that it’s been amazing like seeing all the different stories that are coming from the midterm elections and just being able to edit them and go through it has been great.”
Students were in this control room putting together broadcast just like true professionals. Election coverage at Howard leads to opportunities beyond the classroom.
“This is a great opportunity for the students. We’ve had students who’ve gotten jobs behind their reporting. We’ve written research about the reporting, uh, research articles about the reporting.
“They can get experience covering the local community. They get experience talking to politicians and be comfortable talking with the people in power.”
This Bison election zone has expanded beyond just Howard. it is now at four other universities
“In an effort we’re going to do so and then trying to recruit volunteers. So, and then also trying to make sure people get a good experience at all levels, whether they’re first and second year students or their juniors and seniors trying to go out the door.”
For many, this is just the beginning of their journalistic journey. This is Brandon Horton in DC for HU News Vision.
