With the U.S. Midterm Election only one day away, voters need to be informed now more than ever. Here’s a look at how one school out of the Valley’s largest university is taking the extra effort to keep potential voters informed.
The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications is known for providing exceptional journalism through education and programs. Last month, the award-winning school added another notch to its belt with student-ran Cronkite News, a free online news portal that allows Arizonans to stay informed about local issues. Its latest venture is a multimedia package designed to explain Arizona’s 10 ballot initiatives. This interactive tool lists each proposition complete with a description, key provisions and a video for further visual explanation. Here’s a recap of the 10 initiatives:
- Proposition 106: an amendment to Arizona’s constitution that will exclude Arizona residents from participating in a required health-care system.
- Proposition 107: a ban on statewide or local government-controlled affirmative actions programs.
- Proposition 109: provides a constitutional right to hunt in Arizona and gives only the legislature full authority to make laws concerning hunting and fishing.
- Proposition 110: an amendment to Arizona’s constitution that would allow state trust land to be sold or leased without a public auction to avert interference with military processes.
- Proposition 111: changing Secretary of State to Lieutenant Governor and requiring lieutenant governor and governor nominees to run on the same ticket.
- Proposition 112: making the petition drive deadline two months earlier than its current deadline.
- Proposition 113: an amendment to Arizona’s constitution requiring workers to have a secret-ballot election as the second step of forming a labor union.
- Proposition 203: legalizing the use medical marijuana.
- Proposition 301: transferring millions from a land-conservation fund to a general fund.
- Proposition 302: repealing the early childhood program, First Things First Program, and putting that money into the general fund.
Relocated in the heart of downtown Phoenix in 2008, the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications continues to stay at the helm of journalism. With an elite faculty of former journalists and reporters, the Cronkite School continues to fashion its students into some of the most premier journalists in the nation. Its technologically savvy building is complete with two TV studios, 14 digital newsrooms and computer labs, 280 digital student work stations, a theater and the First Amendment Forum complete with the text of the first amendment on the wall. The building also houses ASU’s KAET (channel 8) and is conveniently located next to many sports venues, TV and radio stations.
