UNL journalism college's state news service receives funding

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has received a $130,000 grant from the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation to support the Nebraska News Service, a public affairs news service launched by the College of Journalism and Mass Communications in January.

UNL is one of 21 top-tier 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, who oversees the student reporters, said, "The grant will assist in the hiring of a staff member to develop personal relationships with news editors and encourage use of the material our students produce."

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.

Media outlets may contact the news service by e-mailing nns@unl.edu. The service is covering the Nebraska Legislature's 2011 session and will report on state agencies and issues for the rest of the year.

Students selected to staff the inaugural state news service are Steven Cain, Emily Nohr, Steve Scharf, Krista Vogel and Paige Yowell.

Cain, of Dakota City, is a senior news-editorial and broadcasting student who is planning to graduate in August. Cain said he learned "firsthand the importance of rural newspapers" during a summer internship with the Seward County Independent. Additionally, he served as assistant producer for Star City News to cover the 2010 mid-term elections for the College of Journalism and Mass Communications. Cain plans to pursue a career in news following graduation.

Nohr, of Crofton, is a junior news-editorial and broadcasting student. Nohr has worked as a fellow for the Omaha World-Herald and interned at the Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan and the USDA Rural Development State Office. Her other experience includes writing stories for the Grand Island Independent, Norfolk Daily News, J News alumni magazine and the Daily Nebraskan. Nohr is vice president of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, secretary for the CoJMC Student Advisory Board and a mentor for the TeamMates program. Nohr hopes to work at a big newspaper in the Midwest following graduation.

Scharf, of Lincoln, is a senior majoring in journalism and political science. He has served on several student government committees, was a member of the CoJMC Student Advisory Board and served as a page for the clerk of the Nebraska Legislature. He recently spent nine months becoming fluent in Spanish while studying and traveling in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador and Peru.

Vogel, of Atkins, Iowa, is a senior news-editorial student graduating in May. She was a reporter for the J school's groundbreaking New Voices project and is currently involved in editing her second depth report magazine. In addition, she is a copy editor for Neighborhood Life, a local magazine, and does freelance editing. Vogel is a member of CoJMC JAMbassadors and the American Copy Editors Society. She plans to acquire a summer internship to pursue a career in magazine editing following graduation.

Yowell, a lifelong Lincoln resident, is a junior news-editorial student with concentrations in political science and religious studies. She has gained experience as an intern with the Seward County Independent, learning about the importance of small-town newspapers. Yowell was also a recipient of the Nancy Foreman Scholarship for the 2010-11 academic year. She plans to graduate in 2012 and pursue a law degree and a career in political reporting.

WRITER: Marilyn Hahn