Vancouverites will have unprecedented access to media coverage on the upcoming municipal election thanks to an innovative project at UBC’s School of Journalism.
Developed and led by journalism graduate student Richard Warnica, a team of master’s students have already begun monitoring major and alternative news media, as well as the local “blogosphere,” publishing first-hand analysis on the School of Journalism’s web site.
Twice a day, the 15-member team scours newspapers, television, radio and online news providers for what is likely the most comprehensive look at the political frontlines Vancouver has ever seen. Brief summaries are provided on a website with links (where available) to original reports and commentary.
“This project exemplifies our commitment to exploring new ways to tell big stories,” said Prof. Donna Logan, director of the only Canadian graduate journalism program west of Ontario.
“For visitors to our web site, the Thunderbird Online Journalism Review, here is a one-stop portal for the freshest election news on the web; for journalists, a quick and dirty way to see what the competition is up to. And for our students, a peerless opportunity to see the ebb and flow of news and how the whole ‘mediascape’ works.”
David Beers, an adjunct lecturer at the School of Journalism and publisher of the independent online newspaper The Tyee, says the project is a bonus for his readers.
“We’re pleased to prominently feature this site because it offers a comprehensive update of various news oulets, including smaller independents, are reporting,” says Beers. “I love this because it evens the playing field. We get all perspectives of all the media, big and small.”
The web site can be found at www.tojr.ca or through the School of Journalism’s main web site, www.journalism.ubc.ca.
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