Image: Jackson State Live (Campus News) – Photo (ON*A3673)by Monica McGhee<\/em><\/p>\n

Antonio Jackson
\nStaff Writer<\/p>\n

The Jackson State University Department of Journalism and Media Studies (DJMS) broadcasted live coverage of the 2022 Midterm Elections on Oct. 8, 2022.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Student activists, political experts and analysts served as guests interviewed to shed light on the different races and the importance of voting.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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,\u201d said Anthony. \u201c<\/span>Students were integrated into coverage through classroom assignments MOS reports and being downtown at the Hinds County Elections office.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019s midterm election in a grave attempt to increase voter turnout at the precinct.<\/span><\/p>\n

DJMS Professor Ashley Norwood, executive producer of the live broadcast, shared her thoughts on the importance of the department\u2019s coverage of Midterm Elections.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is really important because one, it\u2019s important that as citizens, we are aware of the voting process, we\u2019re informed about elections, where to vote, and who we are voting for. It\u2019s important that our students are understanding the importance of voting in all elections and also the process of how to vote,\u201d said Norwood.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had our students helping out with social media and marketing strategies, so we can get the word out about it. We\u2019ve had our students involved in content as well. We\u2019ve sent students to get one-on-one interviews with student leaders about voting,\u201d Norwood said. \u201cWe 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\u2019ve got them scattered all over.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWorking behind the scenes was very informative. I learned a lot of things that I didn\u2019t know, so I thank Professor (Don)Spann for that,\u201d Parks said. \u201cWhen 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\u2019t have the chance to vote. So, I\u2019ve always tried to do that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Gabrielle Moore, a senior journalism media studies major from Aberdeen, Miss., said she also enjoyed working behind the scenes on the election coverage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJust seeing how all that works was a really great experience. I\u2019ve always felt that voting is extremely important,\u201d Moore said. \u201cBeing able to be in this major and experiencing what I\u2019ve experienced, it just let me know that voting is even more important than I thought it was.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Professor Hilliard Lackey, Ph.D., also weighed in on the importance of college students participating in the political process.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cStated or unstated the demographic transition (minorities becoming the majority) is the utmost consideration of American\u00a0Democracy\/American politics at this point.\u00a0 \u00a0The engine of history is the struggle between the haves and the have nots!”\u00a0 Therefore, the historical\u00a0have nots in America since 1619 have been African-Americans,\u201d said Lackey. \u201cNowadays, 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\u00a0is an omnipresent undercurrent to American voting strategies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He added, \u201cThe \u2018haves\u2019 are hard pressed\u00a0to find ways to hold on to their political power.\u00a0 The \u2018have nots\u2019 are eager to turn the tide.\u00a0 Political\u00a0party labels seem to identify with haves (Republicans) and have nots (Democrats) but this too shall change as the Demographic Transition\u00a0ensues. Race is more than likely to take precedence over party eventually.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lackey also stated that those trying to stop the political power of the minority are afraid of young voters.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMeanwhile, young voters are feared because there is evidence they tend to vote along the lines of \u2018idealism\u2019 rather than \u2018protectivism\u2019. 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,\u201d said Lackey, who stated that admitting the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to statehood, for example, seems appropriate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lackey said, \u201cDenying 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.\u00a0 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.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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