Commonwealth Times

Even before the spring semester begins, VCU's Capital News Service hits the ground running.

Student reporters participating in CNS had their orientation into the program this past week during the dregs of holiday intersession classes.

Provided by the VCU School of Mass Communications, CNS allows enrolled students to participate in a high-pressure news environment.

This is the first year CNS has operated as two separately listed classes (MASC 475 and topics course MASC 491). The program is split into a copy-editing section and a reporting section.

Adjunct faculty member Mary Ann Owens directs the copy desk, and associate professor Jeff South directs the reporters. Student reporters will cover the legislative process of state government throughout the 2008 session of the Virginia General Assembly.

CNS accepted about 30 students this year, practically tripling its typical enrollment numbers. The first week of CNS resulted in a distribution of 28 stories.

"That was the most prolific start in CNS history," South stated in an e-mail.

According to the School of Mass Communications' Web site, CNS was established in 1994 as an opportunity for students to cover the General Assembly and "to give the state's weekly, twice-weekly and thriceweekly (newspapers) better access to the Legislature."

Students also provide graphics and photos for clients of CNS. Images can be found at http://www. pbase.com/vcucns.

To the right is a taste of just some of the stories CNS reporters have written for the 2008 legislative session.

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Even before the spring semester begins, VCU's Capital News Service hits the ground running.

Student reporters participating in CNS had their orientation into the program this past week during the dregs of holiday intersession classes.

Provided by the VCU School of Mass Communications, CNS allows enrolled students to participate in a high-pressure news environment.

This is the first year CNS has operated as two separately listed classes (MASC 475 and topics course MASC 491). The program is split into a copy-editing section and a reporting section.

Adjunct faculty member Mary Ann Owens directs the copy desk, and associate professor Jeff South directs the reporters. Student reporters will cover the legislative process of state government throughout the 2008 session of the Virginia General Assembly.

CNS accepted about 30 students this year, practically tripling its typical enrollment numbers. The first week of CNS resulted in a distribution of 28 stories.

"That was the most prolific start in CNS history," South stated in an e-mail.

According to the School of Mass Communications' Web site, CNS was established in 1994 as an opportunity for students to cover the General Assembly and "to give the state's weekly, twice-weekly and thriceweekly (newspapers) better access to the Legislature."

Students also provide graphics and photos for clients of CNS. Images can be found at http://www. pbase.com/vcucns.

To the right is a taste of just some of the stories CNS reporters have written for the 2008 legislative session.

Article Tools