UNL received a $130,000 grant from the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation to support Nebraska News Service, a public affairs news service launched by the College of Journalism and Mass Communications in January.
UNL is one of 21 journalism programs nationwide to receive funding from the foundation’s $1.5 million in grants.
"The Nebraska News Service shows we’re truly providing a news service people want," said Gary Kebbel, dean of the journalism college. "In just six weeks of operation, we have 80 news clients across Nebraska representing a circulation of more than 200,000."
Mary Kay Quinlan, a News-Editorial associate professor who oversees the student reporters, said the grant will be used to hire a new staff member to develop relationships with news editors and encourage use of Nebraska News Service materials.
Founded by Edith Kinney Gaylord, the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation’s mission is to invest in the future of journalism by building the ethics, skills and opportunities needed to advance news and information.
The Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation helps foster the development of models, prototypes and skills for the future of news.
Nebraska News Service will cover the Legislature's 2011 session, state agencies and related issues for the rest of the year.
Students selected to staff the inaugural year of the service are: Steven Cain, a senior news-editorial and broadcasting student from Dakota City, Neb.; Emily Nohr, a junior news-editorial and broadcasting student from Crofton, Neb.; Steve Schraf, a senior double majoring in journalism and political science from Lincoln; Krista Vogel, a senior news-editorial student from Atkins, Iowa; and Paige Yowell, a junior news-editorial student from Lincoln.