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| Legislative
News Service students working at the Montana State Capitol building |
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New
program offers students
real-world experience
A 19-gun
salute in Helena on Jan. 3 was the backdrop for a new governor, new
legislative session and new opportunity for two UM students.
Beth Saboe and Tim Rilley are broadcast journalism majors from UM
who are covering the Montana Legislature in Helena as part of the
Legislative News Service. The two began coverage with the inauguration
of state politicians on the first Monday in January.
The purpose of the program is to inform and educate Montanans about
action taking place in the Montana Legislature and to provide UM students
with real-world experience in the broadcast industry. Currently, the
service is sent out to more than 50 radio stations statewide.
“It is refreshing to get concise, accurate, professional and
timely reports,” said Fred Lark of KXLO radio station in Lewistown.
“It is also very appealing for our scheduling because they (the
reports) are short.”
But it’s not as easy to gain access to the newsmakers as one
would think. “We had spent time, literally, pounding pavement
around the Capitol, handing out our business cards,” Saboe said.
“It’s tough to get the House and the Senate to realize
that they need to talk to the Legislative News Service just like they
would AP or the Great Falls Tribune.” She said some shy away
from them because they are college students, but said she and Rilley
are not letting that stop them.
Their biggest challenge the first week, Saboe said, was technology
issues and not knowing the right people to talk to for stories. Rilley
said his biggest challenge was finding his way around the Capitol.
“They’ve been very flexible and have managed to get their
stuff out every day no matter what challenges pop up,” said
Denise Dowling, assistant professor in UM’s Department of Radio-Television.
During one of the first days of production, the two were getting down
to the wire for putting their story out. Rilley had nowhere in the
Capitol to record his audio, so he put his head inside his sweater
and recorded the day’s news.
So far the students have heard positive feedback about their service
because of the information they’re providing to Montana communities.
Lark said he subscribed to the program because it is non-commercial
and unbiased without a political agenda to promote. He said it is
an excellent project for students to participate in and exhibit their
own professionalism.
— By Brianne Burrowes
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