Training political reporters during a federal election: The UniPollWatch student journalism project

Authors

  • Andrew Dodd University of Melbourne, Australia
  • Peter English University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia
  • Johan Lidberg Monash University, Australia
  • Maxine Newlands James Cook University, Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53761/1.18.4.6

Keywords:

UniPollWatch, work-integrated learning, journalism education, political journalism

Abstract

UniPollWatch was the largest student journalism project ever undertaken in Australia. Approximately 1000 students from 28 universities worked to cover the 2016 federal election. The project aimed to provide effective training on political reporting in a work-integrated learning environment. Utilising a combination of analysis and descriptions of the project and a survey research methodology, the results of this project suggest that by placing student reporters in the midst of a fluid and highly contested election environment they learn by observing and doing. The project demonstrated that students’ attitudes to, and aptitude for, covering politics varied greatly, but that the skills needed for political reporting can be improved through projects such as UniPollWatch.

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Published

2021-01-01

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Training political reporters during a federal election: The UniPollWatch student journalism project. (2021). Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice, 18(4). https://doi.org/10.53761/1.18.4.6