Students at the Reynolds School of Journalism will report, design and publish a web site featuring election-night results and stories with unique student angles, Nov. 4. The Internet site may be accessed beginning Nov. 3.

“The night of a national election may be one of the most exciting for journalists. The pace in newsrooms is frenetic, and we want to create that atmosphere while our students are literally living history,” said Jerry Ceppos, dean of the Reynolds School and Fred W. Smith Chair in Journalism.

Ceppos will assume the role of newsroom chief during the exercise developed by the Reynolds School faculty.

“Our students will experience what it’s like to develop a quality news product under the pressure of breaking news deadlines with the added complexity that they will seek out unique student angles,” Ceppos said. “For a journalist, it doesn’t get any better than this.”

Students will publish their work using Web 2.0 tools.

“This experiment reflects innovation in our curriculum,” said Bob Felten, assistant professor. “We are increasing multimedia emphasis while maintaining our commitment to the essentials of superior writing, editing and news judgment.”

Ceppos is confident that students will remember Election Night 2008 for years.

“This may be the most historically significant election that our students will ever vote in or cover as journalists,” Ceppos said. “We hope that our students capture and communicate that gravitas in their work.”

The Reynolds School of Journalism is Nevada’s only accredited journalism school.