WMSC- FM at Montclair State University Announces Live Election Night Coverage on Multiple Platforms

Election Day’s programming to begin at 7 p.m. on 90.3 WMSC FM

Montclair, NJ. – November 2, 2020 – WMSC-FM announces plans for live election night coverage on Tuesday, November 3 beginning at 5pm starting with Newsdive featuring interviews with Investigative Journalist Greg Palast, California District 12th and challenger to Nancy Pelosi, Shahid Buttar. Then, at 6pm, NJ’s Choice 2020 will feature interviews with Libertarian presidential candidate Jo Jorgensen,  NJ District 11th representative Mikie Sherrill and her opponent Rosemary Becchi.  Beginning at 7pm live, WMSC’s Focus: Democracy will feature WMSC-FM student journalists reporting from the WMSC studios at the School of Communication and Media and remotely from students’ homes to comply with Covid-19 guidelines of social distancing.

The broadcast will include interviews with experts in the fields of Economics, Communication and Media, Politics as well as check-ins with student reporters from sister stations in Sweden, Pennsylvania, Texas, California, etc.

“Engaging young student journalists in Election Night coverage has been a rewarding experience for students and faculty alike in past elections,” said Anabella Poland, General Manager of WMSC FM. “The students have been preparing for weeks to carry out a long, unpredictable broadcast that will provide them with real world experience while they exercise their reporting skills”.

WMSC-FM’s coverage will extend beyond the airwaves to the station’s live stream on iHeartRadio, YouTube channel, Instagram and Twitter accounts.

“For this generation, we know most of our peers are not sitting in front of a traditional television broadcast watching the news evolve throughout the night. Instead, most college students are constantly on social media, “ said AJ Melillo, station manager and senior poli-sci major at Montclair State who will be hosting the 7pm-midnight. “This could well be the election of our lifetime, and as much as it is about results, it is also about learning to put in motion an ambitious live broadcast on one of the most important days as an American citizen.”

Reports will go beyond results. The crew will focus on key topics at stake including voter suppression, the economy, education, journalism, rhetoric on social media, LGBTQIA+ and foreign policy.  

Hosted by:

AJ Melillo, station manager, a senior poli-sci major at Montclair State and host of NJ Choice 2020
Sam Carliner, independent journalist and MSU 2020 alumnus.
Ashley Koutras, associate program director and a junior in Television and Digital Media.
Peter Zezas, assistant news director, a senior Communication and Media Studies/ Theatre Studies double major, and Film & American Sign Language double minor.

Special contributors:

Stephen Rumbolo, graduate poli-sci student at Montclair State University.
Louis Biondolillo, news director and a junior in Television and Digital Media
George Jamgochian, host of In Foul Territory and a senior in elevision and Digital Media.
Tara Morgan, a junior Sociology student at Montclair State, co-host of the Morning Buzz and host of Stomp N’ Stroll Radio.

Special Guests:

Jo Jorgensen, Presidential Libertarian Candidate
Mikie Sherrill, Democrat Representative and candidate, NJ District 11
Rosemary Becchi, Republican candidate, NJ District 11
Greg Palast, investigative journalist BBC & Rolling Stone magazine.
Dr. Luis Portes, Professor of Economics at Montclair State
Dr. Hal Ravinder, Associate Professor of Information Management and Business Analytics.
Dr. David Axelrod, Instruction Specialist, Economics at Montclair State
Dr. Todd Fedderman, Instruction Special, Economics at Montclair State
Dr. Joel Penney, Associate Professor, School of Communication and Media
Joe Amditis, Associate Director of The Center for Cooperative Media

Check out WMSC’s Focus: Democracy on 90.3FM, also available on the iHeartRadio app and platforms and around the world on wmscradio.com

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About WMSC:

WMSC is a non-commercial, alternative rock and talk college radio station located in New Jersey and owned by Montclair State University. WMSC broadcasts at 90.3 MHz, online at www.wmscradio.com and is also available on the iHeartRadio App & Platforms. It is the mission of WMSC to provide an educational and pre-professional experience in a co-curricular activity for the student body of Montclair State University fostering student learning, professional advancement and civic engagement.