Journalism and political science students had Election Day covered

By Sian Wilkerson

Just before 6 a.m. on Election Day, Jenna van Jaarsveld and Sapphira Mohammed were already on the move.

The Virginia Commonwealth University students, partners at the polls, were ready to talk to voters and gather data. Their efforts – a collaboration between the Richard T. Robertson School of Communication and the Department of Political Science, both part of the College of Humanities and Sciences – helped provide wide-ranging coverage of Virginia’s historic 2025 election.

Altogether, 35 students —some who are studying political science, and others who work with the Capital News Service and VCU InSight programs – joined forces Nov. 4 to conduct voter interviews, create content, support professional newsrooms and report live from official watch parties.

For van Jaarsveld, a third-year political science major, the chance to work with Mohammed, a senior studying digital journalism and a copy editor for The Commonwealth Times as well as a reporter with Capital News Service, offered a unique perspective.

“As political science students, we are often used to analyzing institutions and voting behavior,” she said. “But watching the reporting process, I saw how narratives formed and the dedication of the student journalists to verify every fact and to represent the interviewees completely, as well as the amount of pressure on the reporters to simplify complex issues and events.”

This was the sixth election that Alix Bryan, an assistant professor and director of Capital News Service, has produced for journalism students at VCU.

Robertson School instructor Ashley Poerstel, director of the VCU InSight broadcast program, noted the real-world value for journalism and political science students to collaborate.

“Election season always serves as the perfect opportunity to do this,” she said. “In any newsroom, you will work with a team of people, and we want our students to get a taste of that.”

The partnership also offers another perspective. For Robertson School students, that meant learning how political scientists critically analyze questions and data at the polls, while political science students gained insight to how democracy is documented and communicated to the public.

“This collaboration … focused on deepening connections and offering more interdisciplinary opportunities for students who are interested in political media and want to work at the intersection of politics and innovative journalism,” said Hollie Sue Mann, Ph.D., assistant professor and experiential learning coordinator in the Department of Political Science.

It follows similar efforts from the department, including micro-internships and day trips with businesses and organizations working in politics and governance, as well as collaborations with other VCU departments and schools.

For fourth-year digital journalism student and English major Drew Thompson, Election Day coverage began at 7 a.m., when he arrived at the first of three polling locations he would visit. At each, he spoke to voters about the races, getting their thoughts on key issues while also posting live social media updates – and even speaking to one voter on camera.

“This was a first-time experience for me,” said Thompson, who also writes for The Commonwealth Times. “It was my first experience with live reporting and person-on-the-street interviews. … People were much more willing to talk to me than I thought.”

For Mohammed, the experience was nerve-wracking – and exciting: “It strengthened my reporting skills and built my confidence up in working this job,” she said.

Mann and Bryan look forward to more collaborations between their specialties – and to extend the reach.

“Fortunately,” Bryan said, “Virginia has an election every year, and so there are always opportunities to get students involved in the newsroom.”