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Students put on overnight US election broadcast

Robert Constantin/BBC A man looking directly at the camera and smiling wearing a black t-shirt, a Red Bull beanie and a red University of Northampton lanyard. Robert Constantin/BBC
Tom Toseland was one of the University of Northampton students involved

University students gained "vital experience" when they reported overnight on the US election, a journalism lecturer said.

The University of Northampton (UoN) partnered with students from the University of Richmond, in the US state of Virginia, via Zoom for their own live election coverage.

The multimedia journalism and multimedia sports journalism undergraduates reported from the Creative Hub on Waterside Campus from 22:00 GMT to 05:00.

Kate Ironside, a senior lecturer in journalism at the university, said "the sighs of relief were unanimous" after their eight-hour shift.

Robert Constantin/BBC A woman smiling and looking directly at the camera, wearing a pink jumper and scarf with clear-framed glasses. Robert Constantin/BBC
Kate Ironside, University of Northampton's senior lecturer in journalism, is a former political journalist of 26 years

Ironside organised and led the collaborative project. She also directed identical student operations for the UK general elections in 2015, 2017 and 2019.

She said: "I think it is an absolutely vital experience. It's all about industry practice, making sure our students are industry ready.

"[Working overnight] is so tough," she added. "When it gets to four in the morning they are all on their knees."

Robert Constantin/BBC Five students sat in a row looking at numerous computer screens and monitors displaying the live updates, election figures and scripts for the presenters.Robert Constantin/BBC
The University of Northampton students worked throughout the night, practising live TV bulletins, social media posts and blog posts

Tom Toseland, a third-year multimedia sports journalism student at UoN, was one of the editors covering the US election.

He was part of the team that put together hourly 15-minute TV bulletins and uploaded them to their own YouTube channel.

The team also posted updates on X and their own live blog website.

"Kate and my director, Alistair, have been very good at keeping everybody upbeat," said Toseland.

"It's all about making sure everybody has a role and are enjoying it."

Robert Constantin/BBC A blonde woman looking directly at the camera wearing a black jumper and a small cross pendant necklace. Robert Constantin/BBC
Auguste Subbotinaite, a first-year journalism student, worked on the social media coverage

Auguste Subbotinaite, a first-year student, worked as part of the social media team, and said: "I have enjoyed being able to shadow the second and third year students and being able to actually partake in the social media output."

Subbotinaite said that the people she worked with were "intelligent and well rounded.

"Working with them will definitely benefit me in the future," she added.

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