BU Journalism Students Are Covering Election Day From the Polls to the Studio, and BUTV's 'Beyond the Ballot' Goes Live Wednesday

While Massachusetts voters go to the polls Tuesday, students at Boston University's College of Communication are spending Election Day behind cameras and notebooks, BU Today reported in a Nov. 2 story on the school's student newsrooms.

Students working for the Boston University News Service, BUTV, the independent Daily Free Press and several COM courses have been producing election coverage for weeks, according to BU Today. Many have followed key races and ballot questions all semester and planned to step up their reporting on Election Day.

<h3>A live show the day after</h3>

BUTV's special post-election show, Beyond the Ballot, airs Wednesday, Nov. 4, from Studio West in the College of Communication, BU Today reported. Guests include John Harris, a cofounder of Politico; Kelly Garrity, a Boston Globe political reporter; and Elias Miller, a 2021 BU graduate who is a producer on Meet the Press.

The work started well before the broadcast. Students have been editing on-the-street interviews and explainer videos that break down ballot measures for the show's social media accounts. 'We're finding ways to meet our audience where they're at, which is typically on their phone,' co-executive producer Anaya Williams, of the class of 2027, told BU Today. 'And using social media as a tool to keep the conversation going beyond our live show time.'

The show builds on BUTV's 2024 presidential election special, United We Vote. That broadcast won an award for Best College/University News Cast from the Boston/New England chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and was named a Bronze Telly winner in the 47th Annual Telly Awards, according to BU Today.

Co-executive producer George Lehman said planning began earlier this cycle, which let the team add live panels and more expert interviews. To get less-experienced reporters ready, the show gave students individual beats on specific races and policy issues. 'Election show time will go by super quick, and things will change very fast,' Lehman said. 'We want to have as many subject matter experts in the room to help us write efficiently and with the most up-to-date information.'

<h3>Question 8 draws student interest</h3>

One ballot question drawing particular interest from students is Question 8, a proposed law that would reverse Massachusetts' 2016 legalization of cannabis, BU Today reported. To show what it could mean, the show interviewed a dispensary owner about how the change could affect businesses and consumers across the state.

'Telling the stories behind the ballot questions can help make more clear to the audience the impact this election has,' said co-executive producer Maria Pemberton, also of the class of 2027. 'And that reinforces the idea that your vote is important this election, even if it's not a presidential year.'

Williams said that even though many BU students are not from Massachusetts, the results will shape their next few years in Boston.

<h3>Reporters at the polls</h3>

Lehman is also editor-in-chief of BU News Service, which he said is taking 'a forefront role' in midterm coverage. In the weeks before Election Day, its student reporters covered key races across New England. On Tuesday, reporters were set to fan out to polling locations to talk with voters and post live updates, according to BU Today.

'Seeing the passion that students have for this line of work is really rewarding, and I'm glad that I have the opportunity as editor in chief to help oversee our election coverage,' Lehman said.

<h3>Twenty-six communities</h3>

Students in Community Video Reporting, taught by COM associate professor of the practice of journalism Tina McDuffie, are working with Boston Neighborhood Network to report on 26 surrounding communities through interviews with residents, elected officials and candidates.

'The question that we always ask them is, "What are you curious about, and how do you think that this is going to impact you?"' McDuffie said. This year, she said, the class is shooting its own video rather than relying on footage from existing news broadcasts. 'It's more original reporting, more original video.'

<h3>Mail ballots and home states</h3>

The Daily Free Press is also publishing midterm coverage aimed at students. Editor-in-chief Emma Clement, of the class of 2028, said the paper has looked beyond Massachusetts because many BU students vote in their home states, including some with close races.

Its latest print edition ran an opinion column titled 'Should I be worried about my mail-in ballot?' about the uncertainty some out-of-state students feel voting absentee, including whether their ballots will arrive on time and be counted, BU Today reported. 'It's a very student concern,' Clement said. 'Sometimes it's nice to be able to read [the news] and know that the person who wrote this is in a similar boat as you.'

Clement said student publications have an advantage because they can 'speak more directly to students about student concerns.'

<h3>For voters</h3>

Voters who are unsure where to go can look up their polling place with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

McDuffie said covering the election is also a way for students to get to know the places they report on. 'This is our community as well,' she said. 'When you're a reporter … you need to know what the issues are; not only to report on them, but just to be a more well-informed citizen.'