Grady Newsource broadcast evolves to meet digital progress

Grady Newsource — which started broadcasting as University News — is nearly 40 years old and while technologies have changed, journalism ethics and a commitment to preparing students for future careers in broadcast news have remained constant.

“Mostly, we’re trying to give students opportunities to learn, says Ralitsa Vassileva, senior lecturer of the Newsource capstone course. “We’re not looking for perfection, but we want to give them a chance here in the sandbox to try out different things.”

The most important lesson Vassileva teaches is ensuring students deliver news based on facts, but the method of the storytelling is changing, incorporating vertical video and solutions journalism concepts, as well as covering special topics like the upcoming elections on Nov. 3.

Grady Newsource also boasts a newly redesigned website this semester which highlights news features from not only the broadcast news show, but also photojournalism, sports media and reporting courses, among others. An extensive Election Guide 2026 for Northeast Georgia is currently featured on the website.

Sydney Annis, a fourth-year journalism major, has volunteered with Newsource since she was a freshman and is now taking the capstone Newsource course. She says that her previous experience taught her a lot about graphics, audio and the technical side of the broadcast, while her current course is teaching her a lot of storytelling and using classes throughout her education that have been building toward this capstone class and creating confidence.

“Something at this level of professionalism where you’re having so much responsibility for a bunch of college kids to put together a show is kind of crazy,” says Annis. “When you think about it, we put together a 30-minute show and we all do it together somehow. It’s really impressive.”

Maya McKenzie, a fourth-year journalism student, agrees.

“It’s a very demanding class and I definitely have to devote a lot of time to it, but I think it’s really great for collaboration and teamwork,” says McKenzie.

Incorporating the flexibility of Vertical Video

A new focus this semester is an emphasis on vertical video, meeting the demand of people consuming news on their phones. Each student is assigned to pitch story ideas that are introduced in a short vertical format on Tuesdays and expanded into full packages for the broadcast on Thursdays. Since the videos are used for both vertical shorts and full stories, they are filmed horizontally and cropped to use in a vertical format.

On Tuesdays, Amanda Bright, clinical associate professor, and Vassileva provide constructive feedback on improving the vertical videos, while Vassileva gives feedback after each Thursday broadcast.

According to a 2026 Pew Research poll, 88% of U.S. adults view news at least sometimes on digital devices reinforcing the need to reach consumers with credible news where they are watching.

“I think one of our biggest goals as journalists is how do we get back those viewers and how do we win over new viewers who don’t watch TV news,” Vassileva says. “We have to present it in a different way and the vertical format seems more personal.”

McKenzie says viewers see a lot more of the reporter’s personality in vertical videos and that they are a modern way of sharing traditional stories, while Annis, who had a negative view of vertical videos before taking this class, says each video she produces is an improvement over the last.

“News has to be even punchier for the verticals and you have to get people engaged immediately,” Annis says. “I know that’s a big skill that a lot of news outlets want their reporters to know how to do.”

Solutions Journalism explain the good with the bad

Solutions journalism — providing news to consumers featuring solutions to problems — is a focus of today’s Newsource curriculum, as well.

Vassileva says while there are no silver bullets, research has shown people across the political spectrum tend to like the solutions pieces and trust them more.

“If we’re only reporting on the problem and we’re not also reporting on what’s going right in this world, we’re giving people an unbalanced view of their world,” Vassileva says.

Grady College, which is home to a Solutions Journalism Hub of the South that Vassileva co-directs, encourages solutions journalism in a variety of ways, including requiring each Newsource beat to cover at least one to two solutions journalism features each semester.

Special Election Coverage

Another constant over the past several years is the experience students gain from producing a special election news show. This year, Newsource will feature the mid-term elections with two hours featuring special packages, a panel and live remotes from six counties in Northeast Georgia and watch parties in Atlanta. The capstone students will be supplemented by nearly 50 volunteers looking to get experience in the newsroom.

McKenzie, who is producing the elections night coverage, is excited about working with such a large team.

“I didn’t even think going into it I’d like producing this much,” McKenzie says, “but, I think Professor V. has really given me a great opportunity to lead everyone and I now see producing as like a future possibility.”

Vassileva sees experience with special live broadcasts like this provide her students a leg up in job interviews.

Annis feels like the elections broadcast and the course, in general, have provide a lot of personal skills transferable to any career.

“Newsource is really worth it,” says Annis. “It’s definitely taught me personal responsibility like holding yourself accountable. If you don’t get your story in, obviously that’s a reflection on you, but it’s also a reflection on your peers because our show’s going to look bad if you don’t have your story in.”

Author: Sarah E. Freeman, freemans@uga.edu