Image: Jackson State Live (Campus News) – Photo (ON*A3673)by Monica McGhee
Antonio Jackson
Staff Writer
The Jackson State University Department of Journalism and Media Studies (DJMS) broadcasted live coverage of the 2022 Midterm Elections on Oct. 8, 2022.
Anchored by DJMS Department Chair Elayne H. Anthony, the live broadcast provided up-to-date information and results for various Mississippi races, such as U.S. House of Representatives, Circuit Court Judge, Circuit Court Judge, and more.
Student activists, political experts and analysts served as guests interviewed to shed light on the different races and the importance of voting.
“The importance of JMS being involved in election night is to show our students about election coverage and give them the experience of seeing what election coverage is all about,” said Anthony. “Students were integrated into coverage through classroom assignments MOS reports and being downtown at the Hinds County Elections office.”
Party At the Polls, an event centered around the election was also showcased. Many students from organizations such as the Student Government Association (SGA), Pi Sigma Alpha Honor Society, the Political Science Club, and more came out to spread awareness and encourage other students to exercise their right to vote in this year’s midterm election in a grave attempt to increase voter turnout at the precinct.
DJMS Professor Ashley Norwood, executive producer of the live broadcast, shared her thoughts on the importance of the department’s coverage of Midterm Elections.
“This is really important because one, it’s important that as citizens, we are aware of the voting process, we’re informed about elections, where to vote, and who we are voting for. It’s important that our students are understanding the importance of voting in all elections and also the process of how to vote,” said Norwood.
Students from DJMS were given the opportunity to contribute to the preproduction of the broadcast. Norwood gave insight on how students were integrated in the production process.
“We’ve had our students helping out with social media and marketing strategies, so we can get the word out about it. We’ve had our students involved in content as well. We’ve sent students to get one-on-one interviews with student leaders about voting,” Norwood said. “We even have some of our grad students here today that are a part of this live production process. Whether that is receiving our guests or production assistance. We’ve got them scattered all over.”
Some of the students on site were able to talk about their experience in making the broadcast happen and how the overall project affects their perspective on voting.
Martavious Parks, a senior journalism media studies major from Jackson, Miss., said he has learned a lot working behind the scenes and he was grateful for such an opportunity.
“Working behind the scenes was very informative. I learned a lot of things that I didn’t know, so I thank Professor (Don)Spann for that,” Parks said. “When it comes to voting, growing up, I was always told it was important to vote, whether it was presidential, congressional or even just local. This is about exercising our right, because people before didn’t have the chance to vote. So, I’ve always tried to do that.”
Gabrielle Moore, a senior journalism media studies major from Aberdeen, Miss., said she also enjoyed working behind the scenes on the election coverage.
“Just seeing how all that works was a really great experience. I’ve always felt that voting is extremely important,” Moore said. “Being able to be in this major and experiencing what I’ve experienced, it just let me know that voting is even more important than I thought it was.”
Professor Hilliard Lackey, Ph.D., also weighed in on the importance of college students participating in the political process.
“Stated or unstated the demographic transition (minorities becoming the majority) is the utmost consideration of American Democracy/American politics at this point. The engine of history is the struggle between the haves and the have nots!” Therefore, the historical have nots in America since 1619 have been African-Americans,” said Lackey. “Nowadays, other people of color have been added as an afterthought. Thus, African-Americans, Native Americans, Latinos, Asians, Pacific Islanders, and will numerically surpass European Americans within this half century perhaps as early as 2050. The omnipresence of this impending flipflop is an omnipresent undercurrent to American voting strategies.
He added, “The ‘haves’ are hard pressed to find ways to hold on to their political power. The ‘have nots’ are eager to turn the tide. Political party labels seem to identify with haves (Republicans) and have nots (Democrats) but this too shall change as the Demographic Transition ensues. Race is more than likely to take precedence over party eventually.
Lackey also stated that those trying to stop the political power of the minority are afraid of young voters.
“Meanwhile, young voters are feared because there is evidence they tend to vote along the lines of ‘idealism’ rather than ‘protectivism’. Youthful voters are fresh out of the classroom or still in the classroom where democracy is an idealism. Government by the people, of the people and for the people fits their fancy,” said Lackey, who stated that admitting the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to statehood, for example, seems appropriate.
Lackey said, “Denying them the right to become states based on the color of their skin seems unAmerican. Therefore, the vote of the 18-25 cohort is threatening to conservatives wishing to maintain the status quo. Liberals fear their vote as well when it comes to rights based on sexual preferences, gender equity, racial equality, foreign aid to Non-NATO countries, and yes Deion Sanders (Coach Prime of Jackson State University) when it comes to HBCUs in FBS Bowl Games.”
For viewers who have missed the live show, there is an online archive you can watch right now on YouTube on the JSU Department of Journalism and Media Studies channel.
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