Learn more about the J school's reporting service

More than 100 news organizations with a combined circulation greater than 200,000 throughout Nebraska receive regular news updates about state government and the legislature’s actions from a reporting service of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln

The Nebraska News Service provides stories and photographs to participating state news organizations free of charge. During legislative sessions, news coverage focuses on the legislature's activities. The rest of the year, the Nebraska News Service covers state agencies and issues.

Mary Kay Quinlan, who oversees the student reporters, said, "NNS will not only provide a real-world learning experience for students but will also assist the state's news organizations in covering government decisions made daily at the state capitol."

The student reporters for the fall 2012 semester are Katie Walter, Benjamin Welch and Amanda Woita. Anthony Roberts is the technology consultant and assists with the publication and distribution of content for the Nebraska News Service.

Katie Walter is a senior news-editorial major from Omaha with a minor in political science. After she graduates in December, she hopes to pursue a career in political journalism or as a film critic. She wanted to be a part of the Nebraska News Service because she believes there are interesting things happening in state government that are under-reported.

Benjamin Welch is a graduate student from Colorado Springs, Colo. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado, where he was the editor-in-chief of his school newspaper, The Mirror. Ben had an internship with the Colorado Springs Gazette working in the arts and entertainment section and periodically on the copy desk and has also written freelance for different outlets. He’s reporting for the Nebraska News Service to get a better understanding of governmental procedure and hard news reporting.

Amanda Woita is a senior from Waverly, Neb., majoring in both news-editorial and broadcast journalism. She has had internships at The Waverly News and the Seward County Independent. Eventually, Amanda would like to work for a newspaper outlet to write stories and create online content with her double major. She joined the Nebraska News Service to learn more about state government and to serve readers in greater Nebraska.

Anthony Roberts of Lincoln is a 2001 honors graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communication.  He was the Lincoln Journal Star’s first online video and multimedia producer for five years before returning to the CoJMC in 2011 as the multimedia coach for the Nebraska News Service.   Anthony combines a broad knowledge of online multimedia technologies with the ability to diagnose technical issues related to the delivery of online content and can offer custom solutions for news organizations to improve their online presence.

Media outlets wanting to contact the Nebraska News Service may do so by sending an e-mail to nns@unl.edu.

ABOUT THE NEBRASKA NEWS SERVICE
The Nebraska News Service offers a unique opportunity to news organizations across the state as well as the students in the bureau. Based in the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communications only blocks from the capitol, we are able to provide our clients with powerful, relevant stories, straight from the source. In turn, our reporters gain real-life experience and exposure to the news world. Currently, our stories reach Nebraskans in all corners of the state, from Chadron to Nebraska City.

ABOUT THE COLLEGE OF JOURNALISM AND MASS COMMUNICATIONS
The College of Journalism and Mass Communications is an internationally recognized program, where more than 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students from throughout the U.S. and the world get to practice hands-on journalism, advertising and public relations. UNL's program -- accredited by ACEJMC since 1954 and Nebraska's only accredited journalism program -- has attracted talented faculty members who have substantial professional experience in their fields. The Nebraska News Services joins other J school programs housed in Andersen Hall -- the Carnegie-Knight News21 initiative and the training center for the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund.