It’s been a roller-coaster ride for Americans during this presidential election year — and it all comes down to who will be chosen as the 45th president on Nov. 8 — Election Day. At The University of Akron, there are two ways to watch the results come in.
The School of Communication’s Z-TV, based in the television studio in Kolbe Hall, will have an Election Night Special. Live coverage is planned from 7 to 10 p.m., or later if there are unexpected developments. On-campus viewers can watch on Channel 45-1, and everyone has access on our website.
Thirty-seven students will be involved in the program — producing news stories for the live broadcast, generating graphics and getting interviews, including one with Dr. John Green, director of UA’s Bliss Institute of Applied Politics and interim dean of the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences. During the live broadcast, Z-TV members will work as production crew and will gather election results for Summit County, the state of Ohio and the presidential race. Four crews will be on hand at local watch parties to provide live coverage, including the Election Night Watch Party in the Student Union Ballrooms.
Watch party
The Watch Party in the Student Union, scheduled from 7 to 11 p.m., is being hosted by the Bliss Institute of Applied Politics, Zips Programming Network, College Democrats and Akron College Republicans. Doors will open at 6:45 p.m. There will be food, prizes and live streaming from the major cable networks as the individual state results come in and the presidential electoral count races to 270.
Election Night 2016 provides a unique opportunity for the Z-TV crew, says Juan Contreras Barberena, associate professor of practice and general manager of the television station.
“The goal of Z-TV is to train future professionals,” notes Barberena. “The election gives us an opportunity to do something more challenging where the students will learn how live news programs are developed, how fair and ethical information gathering takes place and the challenges that it involves. Overall, we want our students to feel confident when creating programs and to have something tangible to show when they are ready to join the job market. Experiences like these can help them take leaps toward those objectives.”
Follow on social media
Follow Z-TV for live updates on Facebook and Snapchat: ZTV Akron; and on Twitter: @ZTVAkron. Also on UA's Snapchat: uakron.
Follow the Bliss Institute and ZPN on Twitter: @UABliss, @UAkronZPN.