Eagle News Network covers election on Channel 97

November 8, 2006

eorgia Southern’s broadcast students had a hands-on opportunity to demonstrate their craft on Tuesday, Nov. 7, beginning at 8 p.m., when they produced election coverage for the city of Statesboro. Northland Cable’s Channel 97, also known as the Eagle News Network, carried their coverage, which continued until almost all of the winners were declared.

‘In addition to operating cameras and production equipment, the students gathered information about returns, interviewed candidates, talked with political experts, and did all the things necessary to bring election coverage to the public,” said Mark Mohr, assistant professor of communication arts. ‘This was a great opportunity for the students and for community viewers who wanted a local angle on election night.”

Communication arts faculty members Reed Smith and Kent Murray oversaw the work of the 24 students in the Broadcast Applications course who worked during the evening. Faculty members Patrick Novotny, associate professor of political science, and Richard Pacelle, professor and chair of political science, were on hand to provide political commentary. Novotny also interviewed James Healy, editor of the Statesboro Herald, and Rachel McDaniel, editor of the George-Anne. Jane Hudak, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, was also on hand to discuss the communication arts program.

This is the second time that Georgia Southern students have stepped up to provide election coverage for Statesboro. They also covered the Presidential election in 2004.