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Media Memo: Journalism Project Helps Students Understand Election Issues

TO: News/Assignment Editors

FROM: Judy Berthiaume

DATE: Nov. 2, 2006

SUBJECT: Journalism Project Helps Students Understand Election Issues

Mike Dorsher, an assistant professor of communication and journalism, and students in his Public Affairs Reporting class have published a Web site filled with student-focused, balanced and accurate information on every candidate in every local legislative race, the major statewide races and the ballot measures on same-sex marriage and the death penalty.

Along with in-depth print stories on all the candidates and issues, the site includes:

  • Audio stories, allowing candidates to explain their policies in their own words while students voice their concerns. These stories are in mp3 format, so students can download them to their iPod or mp3 player.
  • A VoteSmart blog, where students can comment on any of the stories or post a question for a candidate. A student reporter will pose the question to the candidate and post a response before Election Day.
  • Every print story on the site has a byline hyperlinked to a profile on that reporter written by a classmate, explaining what experience or biases the reporter has in public affairs. Many of the reporters started with little experience or interest in public affairs so they approached stories from the perspective of an average student reader or listener.
  • Stories are certified as 100 percent accurate because the class e-mailed an "accurate reporting response form" to every person quoted directly or indirectly in every story.
  • Maps and links to detailed information about polling places and legislative candidates.

Dorsher is sharing information about the site with students via an e-mail message, which includes information about how students can register to vote Nov. 7 in Eau Claire.

For more information, contact Dr. Mike Dorsher at 715-836-5729, 877-663-7660 or mdorsher@uwec.edu.

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