Increasing Diversity and Civic Engagement through YouthProduced News and Information ServiceLearning

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Increasing Diversity and Civic Engagement through
Youth-Produced News and Information
Service-Learning Projects
Presented by Dr. Deborah Smith-Howell, Associate
Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Dean for
Graduate Studies Paul Sather, Director of
Service-Learning Academy/American Humanics Dr.
Lynnette G. Leonard, Assistant Professor, School
of Communication Nicole Baxley, Undergraduate
Coordinator for NOMA Angel Martin, Graduate
Student and Media Specialist for Girls Inc. of
Omaha
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UNOs Mission and Strategic Goals

• The University of Nebraska at Omaha is Nebraskas
  metropolitan universitya university with strong
  academic values and significant relationships
  with our community that transform and improve
  life.
• Goal 1 UNO will be recognized as a student
  centered metropolitan university.
• Goal 2 UNO will be recognized for its academic
  excellence as a metropolitan university
• Goal 3 UNO will be recognized for its
  outstanding engagement with urban, regional,
  national and global communities.

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UNO Students Expect Metropolitan Opportunities

• Students expect metropolitan experiences and
  opportunities internships, community service,
  give back to the community.
• 87 of entering freshmen and transfer students
  expect a diverse curriculum and experience at
  UNO.
• 65 of entering UNO freshmen and transfer
  students expect to engage in public or community
  service in the Omaha area while at UNO.

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Service Learning at UNO

• The University of Nebraska at Omaha is a
  metropolitan university committed to building
  bridges between the campus and the community.
• One such bridge is service learning, which brings
  the talents and energy of UNO students into the
  service of the Omaha community.
• Students not only address community needs but
  also enrich their own education by experiencing
  the real-world application of academic subjects
  and developing the habit of active citizenship.

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Who We Are

• NOMA is a collaboration between
• UNO students and faculty in the School of
  Communication
• UNO Service-Learning Academy
• Omaha North High Magnet School
• Girls Inc of Omaha
• We are dedicated to changing perceptions of North
  Omaha one story at a time.

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What We Do

• Teach high school students about social media and
  citizen journalism through the guidance of
  university students.
• Reflect on issues related to local civic
  engagement as well as larger political issues.
• Combat current misrepresentations of North Omaha
  by reporting local news and speaking out about
  community issues.

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NOMA VOTE 2008

• UNO students facilitated discussion with the high
  school students
• On the qualities that a candidate for President
  should possess and issues they feel are critical
  to this campaign.
• Analyzing media coverage of the candidates and
  campaign statements.
• Students participated in the Election Night Blog
  and experienced the Election Night news coverage
  by UNO TV.
• Students had the opportunity to talk with the
  director for 18 in 08, a documentary focused on
  the youth vote in the election, before seeing the
  documentary.

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NOMA VOTE 2008

• Discussion Outcomes
• Candidate Qualities and Characteristics
• Speak well, be fair, influential, genuine, firm
  stance and moral
• Self-sacrificial predisposition, leadership,
  honesty, experience, and energy
• Have plans for the future and a way to make them
  work, how they present themselves to the
  community and country
• Smart, resourceful, strong, trustworthy, healthy,
  bold, and spiritual
• Issues for this Election
• Lower taxes, war in Iraq, food and gas prices,
  health care, stable economy, employment,
  financial crisis, dependence on non-domestic
  fuels, drugs, abortion, animal rights, education,
  oil drilling, and economic security
• Media Analysis improved media literacy and
  critical thinking skills
• Election Night Blogs

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NOMA Committees

• Logo Committee Collaborated with Maverick
  Solutions (Student run PR Firm) to create our
  logo. Now is the PR Committee.
• Photo Committee Photo essay project portraying
  North Omaha from students point of view.
• Website Committee Planning the website for NOMA.
• Blog Committee Created blog topics, brainstormed
  ways to encourage blogging, and evaluated blogs
  for awards.

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Obamas First 100 Days

• Meetings explored different topics by showing
  media clips and reading magazine and newspaper
  stories. Topics included
• Inauguration and its meaning
• Different presidential mentality
• President Obamas priorities
• Iraq/Afghanistan missions timeline
• Obamas Budget and the Economy
• After discussion, students blogged about the
  issues from their point of view.

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Community Partner PerspectiveGirls Inc. of Omaha

• Students in the project
• Gained confidence
• Had their voice heard (blogging on election night
  for the school election blog)
• Were exposed to different media outlets
• Experienced web design and content creation
  (blogs and photos), being on a college campus,
  and working in diverse groups
• Used Social Network Site Ning.com
• Brought the group together in a secure network
• Chance to express personality
• Communicate with one another

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Key Components to Success

• Create a safe, respectful environment conducive
  to discussing difficult or controversial topics.
• Provide background information on issues to
  facilitate informed discussion and critical
  analysis.
• Make sure that everyone's voice is heard (college
  students, high school students, faculty and
  staff)
• Process should include time to think and reflect
  with an open mind on the issues.
• Encourage students to present their perspective
  on political issues.
• Create ways to communicate outside of group
  meetings (ning.com site)
• Utilize the technology available
• Reflect on achievements and celebrate
  accomplishments.