Doña Ana Community College students have their own newsroom.
The college launched The Student Pulse, a digital student-run newspaper, according to a DACC announcement on Wednesday, Oct. 28. Three student reporters staff the publication, which covers campus programs, student resources, local events and issues affecting students and surrounding communities.
The newspaper is one piece of a $77,000 grant awarded to DACC, according to the college. The grant aims to strengthen journalism education and expand reporting in underserved areas, including communities in southern Doña Ana County. Organ Mountain News also covered the launch.
The grant funds student internships at local news organizations: Organ Mountain News, KRWG-TV, News 22 and KRWG-FM. Neither the college nor Organ Mountain News identified the organization that awarded the grant.
"These platforms are important to news storytelling and allowing students an opportunity to report on matters that affect our community," said Denise LaFrance-Ojinaga, DACC's public information officer and editor of the student-run news program. She said the program aims to give reporters "a pathway to continue their education onto a four-year university like NMSU."
DACC plans to bring on additional reporters during the spring semester.
Beyond the newspaper, the grant funds DACC Talks, a student podcast featuring news and interviews about college events. DACC has also partnered with New Mexico State University to create an informal journalism club for incoming, current and former journalists throughout southern New Mexico. The club aims to give participants a space to share ideas and discuss journalism in the region.
The Student Pulse is hosted on DACC's website.
