Students take part in live, local election coverage

Western Washington University students helped produce live coverage of election night in Whatcom County on Nov. 8, 2011. The Election Night Live broadcast included up-to-date news and information about the general election; viewers watched live election coverage from multiple locations around the county as well as analysis and commentary by former Bellingham Herald reporter Sam Taylor, who interviewed a series of local guests.

Election Night Live was produced without a budget but was sponsored by a few community-minded businesses. It was a collaborative effort of the Western Washington University New Media Production Internship Program, the Whatcom Community College Media Production Internship Program, the Northwest Community College Initiative and dozens of community volunteers. All of this is being coordinated by the Center for New Media, is a 501(c)3 focused on creating vibrant local programming and telling local and regional stories, according to a recent press release from the center.

"Local elections are so important--and there hasn't been a local, live video broadcast of election night in years," said Suzanne Blais, Executive Director for the Center for New Media. "Since our focus is teaching and training in new media, as well as research and experimentation, it seemed like a fun and exciting opportunity to share the excitement around Whatcom County utilizing the internet and with the help of new technology and student interns from WWU and WCC."

For the broadcast, student teams paired with professionals from a variety of media fields. Each of these professionals donated his or her time and experience. Approximately 40 individuals were involved in the broadcast. Host Sam Taylor is the former government and politics reporter for The Bellingham Herald, where he spent nearly five years covering Whatcom County's local, state and federal politicians.

Other local coverage: 

 

Western Today staff
Suzanne Blais, executive director for the Center for New Media, supervises her media team in the control room in Haggard Hall during election night Nov. 8, 2011. The team was live-streaming coverage of the elections online. Photo by Rhys Logan | Universit
Robert Clark, video services manager at Western Washington University, works in the control room in Haggard Hall during election night Nov. 8, 2011. The team was live-streaming coverage of the elections online. Photo by Rhys Logan | University Communicati
Suzanne Blais, executive director for the Center for New Media, supervises her media team in the control room in Haggard Hall during election night Nov. 8, 2011. The team was live-streaming coverage of the elections online. Photo by Rhys Logan | Universit
Guest host Sam Taylor conducts an interview in the WWU television studio in Haggard Hall Tuesday night, Nov. 8. Photo by Rhys Logan | University Communications intern
Suzanne Blais, executive director for the Center for New Media, supervises her media team in the control room in Haggard Hall during election night Nov. 8, 2011. The team was live-streaming coverage of the elections online. Photo by Rhys Logan | Universit
Anchor Femi Abebefe, a Western Washington University student, goes through a practice run before interviewing Bellingham residents and Bellingham mayor Dan Pike, up for re-election, on Tuesday night, Nov. 8, at Bayou on Bay. Photo by Rhys Logan | Universi
Anchor Femi Abebefe, a Western Washington University student, goes through a practice run before interviewing Bellingham residents and Bellingham mayor Dan Pike, up for re-election, on Tuesday night, Nov. 8, at Bayou on Bay. Photo by Rhys Logan | Universi
Anchor Femi Abebefe, a Western Washington University student, goes through a practice run before interviewing Bellingham residents and Bellingham mayor Dan Pike, up for re-election, on Tuesday night, Nov. 8, at Bayou on Bay. Photo by Rhys Logan | Universi
Anchor Femi Abebefe, a Western Washington University student, goes through a practice run before interviewing Bellingham residents and Bellingham mayor Dan Pike, up for re-election, on Tuesday night, Nov. 8, at Bayou on Bay. Photo by Rhys Logan | Universi
Suzanne Blais, executive director for the Center for New Media, supervises her media team in the control room in Haggard Hall during election night Nov. 8, 2011. The team was live-streaming coverage of the elections online. Photo by Rhys Logan | Universit
Suzanne Blais, executive director for the Center for New Media, supervises her media team in the control room in Haggard Hall during election night Nov. 8, 2011. The team was live-streaming coverage of the elections online. Photo by Rhys Logan | Universit
Students working with the Center for New Media pull strings behind the scenes to execute a live stream of election night coverage on No. 8, 2011. Photo by Rhys Logan | University Communications intern
Suzanne Blais, executive director for the Center for New Media, supervises her media team in the control room in Haggard Hall during election night Nov. 8, 2011. The team was live-streaming coverage of the elections online. Photo by Rhys Logan | Universit
Anchor Tyler Maloy, a Whatcom Community College student, waits as the camera shot is setup for her interviews with mayoral candidate Kelly Linville and other Bellingham residents at the Copper Hog in Bellingham.
Students working with the Center for New Media pull strings behind the scenes to execute a live stream of election night coverage on No. 8, 2011. Photo by Rhys Logan | University Communications intern
Anchor Femi Abebefe, a Western Washington University student, goes through a practice run before interviewing Bellingham residents and Bellingham mayor Dan Pike, up for re-election, on Tuesday night, Nov. 8, at Bayou on Bay. Photo by Rhys Logan | Universi