VCU Students Collaborate For Real-World Election Coverage Experience
On Election Day, Virginia Commonwealth University students merged journalism and political science skills for hands-on experience. The project sought to teach students the art of data gathering and narrative construction by having them interact with voters directly at voting places.
Organized by the Robertson School of Communication and the Department of Political Science, the program gave students real experience with the processes of democracy. They gathered voter opinions, carried out interviews, and assisted with the professional newsroom’s reporting.
Students From Both Disciplines Team Up At Polling Stations
By six in the morning, Jenna van Jaarsveld and Sapphira Mohammed, among others, were already on the ground, collecting data from the polling stations. Their responsibilities include interviewing voters, providing live coverage, and doing field analysis during Virginia’s landmark 2025 election.
Thirty-five students, hailing from both the political science and journalism disciplines, took part in the initiative. Their efforts bolstered the election reporting of Capital News Service and VCU InSight, reaching across many sites around the state.
Political Science Students Learn From Journalism In Action
For a lot of political science students, becoming involved in the reporting process was a real education. They watched how journalists check facts, explain difficult data, and build electoral narratives with integrity.
Van Jaarsveld explained that witnessing reporters in action emphasized the huge responsibility of correctly reporting voters’ opinions. The event helped connect political theory with how it was actually communicated.
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Journalism Students Gain Insight Into Political Analysis
Students studying journalism also benefited from understanding how political scientists examine electoral data and understand how voters behave. This understanding allowed them to add context and clarity to their reporting throughout the election.
Ashley Poerstel, an instructor at the Robertson School, emphasized the value of teamwork and working across different fields. She observed that the electoral cycle offers an ideal setting for students to put their academic knowledge to practical use in real-world situations.
Faculty Emphasize The Importance Of Interdisciplinary Learning
Assistant Professor Hollie Sue Mann described the initiative as part of a bigger attempt to combine political science with new media. The purpose was to develop critical thinking, ethical journalism, and civic involvement among pupils.
Mann also pointed out that these partnerships offer valuable chances for students who are drawn to the overlap of politics, media, and technology. These experiences reflect the real-world situations that will be present in their future jobs in political journalism.
Students Reflect On Confidence And Skill Development
For Drew Thompson, a journalism student, the event was a debut in live reporting and conducting interviews on camera. He made the rounds, stopping at several polling places to hear directly from people about the political matters that concerned them most.
Mohammed found the whole thing a mix of anxiety and satisfaction. Her experience covering actual elections, she stressed, was essential in boosting her self-assurance, refining her reporting skills, and cultivating a greater respect for the field of journalism.
Ongoing Partnership Promises Future Collaborative Opportunities
The two departments want to maintain their collaborative efforts on Election Day for the next elections. Faculty members think that collaborative work increases academic learning and prepares students for professional difficulties in news reporting and political analysis.
Assistant Professor Alix Bryan stated that Virginia’s periodic elections give students many chances for practical involvement. Each cycle will provide new participants a chance to understand journalism’s crucial role in chronicling democratic processes.
