UWIRE College Journos Blog Politics For 'Wash. Post,' CBS Web Sites

By: Joe Strupp UWIRE, the college journalism association that has been helping student journalists share content since 1984, has launched a Web site that provides student journalist reports and views on the presidential campaign through The Washington Post and CBS News.

Ben French, UWIRE's vice president and general manager, said the Web site launched on Wednesday at both the Post and CBS News Web sites. It includes input from 50 college journalism students and will be updated regularly through mid-November.

"We hand-picked them from all of our member papers and from anyone who fit the profile," said French. "We are trying to concentrate on the swing states, where it will be most impactful."

Check it out here.

Earlier this year, the group released its UWIRE 100, a list of the top 100 college journalists in the country compiled by UWIRE's seven-person panel of editors and managers. It spanned 66 different campuses, from New York University to UCLA, with entries ranging from a former Iraq War embed to a sex columnist.

French said this project is a natural extension of UWIRE's past services, especially at a time when younger voters are expected to turn out in record numbers. "It is about trying to tap into the youth and get into the minds of youth voters," he told E&P. "Everyone thinks young voters will turn out in big numbers, but it is still unclear how much."

Each student is expected to post something about every two weeks, but are free to submit items as often as they wish, French said, adding that some are opinion, some are news stories, as well as video. He said the project will also include a poll of college students in four swing states. He said the likely states are North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Colorado, but that could change.

"We would want to partner with schools in those locations to administer the poll at schools," he said.

French said none of the students are being paid for their work, but declined to comment on what, if any revenue UWIRE is receiving. He said the project gives the two news outlets an extra piece of coverage. "Who better to cover the youth vote than younger reporters?" he asked. "And what an opportunity for them to be covering the election."