Danielle James —-who is currently a political correspondent for based in Lansing Michigan —- said her favorite story she has written to this date was the first article she published with the Capital News Service as a student at Michigan State University. She recalled her exuberance when she saw her byline attached to the article examining how high water levels affected coast erosion on Lake Michigan.
“I remember I was super excited because I sent that article away, and I ended up getting a couple front pages, which I still have somewhere in a drawer,” said James. “I just thought that was the coolest thing ever.”
For almost 43 years, students at Michigan State University have had the opportunity to engage in professional political reporting through an internship course called the .
Over the years, CNS has forged relationships with roughly 40 news outlets around the state of Michigan, including specialized publications and daily and weekly newspapers. These news partners pay a small subscription fee to have access to all of CNS material for republishing, which covers basic operational costs including a part-time editor as well as scholarship awards for CNS correspondents.
Professor Eric Freedman was handed the reins of the CNS in 2002, and manages the program as part of his teaching course load. Just this past February, Freedman was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame for his extensive career as a reporter.
“There are plenty of journalists who belong there,” said Freedman. “None of us get into the profession because we want honors or prizes or awards. We get into it because we believe in the mission, or we think we enjoy it and do well.”
Freedman decided to teach and direct the CNS program because of his faith in the value of the profession and in the potential of the next generation of journalists.
“The students who come into Capital News Service–some of them are about ready to enter the profession, some are earlier in their careers,” said Freedman.“Through the journalism academic program, the next cohort of professional journalists who start out with little or no experience, we hope, will then prosper and succeed,” said Freedman.
While students are expected to generate story ideas, Freedman does help guide students through the journalistic process. Over the course of the semester, the five or six students who are selected for the internship program will generate one or more stories per week. These stories are housed within the Michigan State University Journalism Department’s website called the .
Freedman compiles a weekly budget of stories as well which he sends to subscribing members, including news outlets that pick up students' work. While the CNS program does not have the capacity to do day-to-day coverage of legislative sessions, Freedman explained that students in the program write “hard news” on relevant political issues on the state and local level.
“We can provide coverage that local news media can't afford and lack the staff to cover,” said Freedman.
“I hope the partnership keeps going — I think the program has proven very worthwhile,” said Burr. “I know, when I first got published in significant newspapers, that was always a thrill, so we hope that students have that same thrill and it encourages them on their career path.”
The program doesn't just benefit students. The stories that are produced through the CNS have statewide value, according to Burr.
“We feel like these are good stories that meet our standards and are worthy of publication, and they help our readership, and they help our paper,” said Burr.
Ensuring that a student's work through CNS is of professional publishing quality requires rigorous standards.
James recounted how starting the internship felt daunting at first with all the deadlines and expectations, and she even considered dropping the course at first. However, she rose to the occasion, and eventually took the CNS course as an elective multiple times while a student at MSU, precisely because it introduced her what a career in journalism would actually be like.
“It was the first time that I had ever been sort of confronted with a real newsroom setting,” said James. “It made me decide that I wanted to go into journalism and that it was something that I thought was possible.”
One of the requirements that James felt was particularly beneficial was to attend House and Senate sessions and learn more about the political process.
“One of the highlights is just that specific hands-on experience,” said James. “I thought that was super interesting getting to know and learn more about how everything works very technically. I think that's super valuable because at the end of the day, everything [governmental officials are] doing there greatly affects all of us.”
Freedman also mentioned the benefit of students interacting with state and local leaders for their own professional and personal growth.
“I think the exciting thing is that it helps these students build their confidence in interviewing people with real or perceived power and influence, whether they're members of the legislature or directors of state agencies or the heads of advocacy groups.”
Ultimately, James feels that the CNS program has had a positive impact on her career by helping her grow her journalism portfolio and making statewide connections that helped her get her current job.
“I definitely would attribute a lot of where I am today to that program and that class specifically, and especially having people involved with the program that pushed [me],” said James.
Freedman is passionate about the CNS program because of how the internship experience prepares students for their future.
“I'm excited by the fact that we give students professional quality experience with much more hands-on editing and mentoring than they can get in newsrooms nowadays, and help them develop the skills necessary to walk into a newsroom or a government press office or advocacy group communications office after they graduate and get right to work,” said Freedman.