As statehouse coverage shrinks, student journalists are stepping in to fill the void - Poynter

"The real-world stakes is what gives it so much power for the students. That turns it from a school exercise into a real thing. And that pressure of, 'This could be a big chance for me' or..."

Colleen Steffen leads student journalists at Franklin College, where they operate from a makeshift newsroom known as 'The Shack.' This outlet, The Statehouse File, has been reporting on the Indiana General Assembly since 2005. Across the U.S., college journalism students are increasingly filling legislative coverage gaps as traditional newsrooms struggle. The University of Vermont's Center for Community News supports these initiatives, with 35 universities involved in statehouse reporting. This experience provides students with authority and confidence, transforming academic exercises into impactful journalism.

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