UNL journalism college launches state government news service

More than 60 newspapers, television and radio stations throughout Nebraska will receive regular news updates about state government and the legislature's actions from a new reporting service of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The Nebraska News Service will provide stories and photographs to participating state news organizations free of charge. During legislative sessions, news coverage will focus on the legislature's activities. The rest of the year, the Nebraska News Service will cover state agencies and issues.

"This is a great way for the college to help inform people throughout the state about how important state government is to all of our lives," said Gary Kebbel, dean of the journalism college. "Most news organizations simply can't afford to have a full-time reporter covering state government. The College of Journalism and Mass Communications can help those organizations inform Nebraska citizens about decisions that affect our lives in important ways every day."

Mary Kay Quinlan, who will oversee the student reporters, said, "NNS will not only provide a real-world learning experience for students but will also assist the state's news organizations in covering government decisions made daily at the state capitol."

Journalism sequence head Tim Anderson said the rigorous course will simulate an intensive newsroom setting. "Students will learn what covering state government is all about as they report on the 2011 session of the Nebraska Legislature," he said.

Students who have been selected to staff the inaugural news service are Steven Cain, Dakota City; Emily Nohr, Crofton; Steve Scharf, Lincoln; Krista Vogel, Atkins, Iowa; and Paige Yowell, Lincoln.

Media outlets wanting to contact the Nebraska News Service may do so by sending an e-mail to nns@unl.edu.

Quinlan, who has covered the U.S. Congress for 15 years and is an associate professor of journalism, joined UNL in 1999. She taught graduate and undergraduate classes at the University of Maryland College of Journalism where she was a Baltimore Sun Distinguished Lecturer and William Randolph Hearst Visiting Professional.

The College of Journalism and Mass Communications is an internationally recognized program, where more than 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students from throughout the U.S. and the world get to practice hands-on journalism, advertising and public relations. UNL's program -- accredited by ACEJMC since 1954 and Nebraska's only accredited journalism program -- has attracted talented faculty members who have substantial professional experience in their fields. The Nebraska News Services joins three J school programs housed in Andersen Hall -- the ABC News On Campus bureau, the Carnegie-Knight News21 initiative and the training center for the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund.

WRITER: Marilyn Hahn