Politics
As managing editor of content during a year of presidential campaigning and caucus coverage, we have put much more emphasis on political reporting. Our political editor and I have created the Iowa State Daily's first political team, training students on how to cover a campaign season and continue covering the legislature.
We have been very strategic in how we present our content so we can increase student interaction in political coverage, especially for a generation that is less politically-minded than past generations. I have worked with our engagement editor to put on events that will engage students in the caucuses, such as a mock caucus event.
Election Special Section
I worked with photographers and graphic designers to have an insert in our paper that would give students the chance to see where each candidates stood on issues that related to their lives. I and one other reporter spoke to candidates directly or spoke to campaign managers to get each candidates' stance on the issues.
Election Day
I worked with a reporter on a story for Election Day that would show them the weight each stduents' vote carried and why they should vote.
Througout Election Day, I coordinated reporters and photographers to times and polling locations they would visit throughout the day. Each reporter was assigned to an outcome story for five of the races we deemed the most influential for students living in Ames. I made sure reporter were in touch with sources and candidates they could speak to as results came out after 9 p.m.
I also covered a last-minute appearance by Bruce Braley on campus and coached a new reporter through covering a death of a student, which we learned happened the day before.
Election Outcomes
I came up with the headline for our centerpiece after election outcomes showed Republicans winning a large majority of races in the state level and in our local district.
We had planned on our centerpiece story being about the Senate race, but after the switch in power and great reaction photographers and two of my reporters gathered while at election watch parties for both clubs of college Republicans and Democrats, we changed the centerpiece to reaction to Republican control along with the Senate race outcomes. The rest of the paper was filled with outcome stories for four other races.
Political pandemonium: Students feel too uninformed to caucus
This year, the Iowa Caucus will take place during the spring semester and opens up the opportunity for more ISU students to participate, but many said they don't feel informed enough to get involved in the process.
“All of students feel like their voice doesn’t make a difference,” said Alex Doser, senior in mathematics and president of Iowa State's College Dems. “People are not willing to get involved if they can’t make a difference.”
James McCormick, professor of political science, said the last caucus occurred during a time when school wasn't in session, which McCormick said deterred students from becoming involved.
Nigel Hanson, junior in political science and president of Iowa State's College Republicans, said students can be influential; they haven't been in the past, but they should be. [Read more]