Source: Jeff Greenberg / Getty

Election Day 2024 is set to be a monumental moment at the Mecca—Howard University. This historic day could break barriers as Vice President Kamala Harris stands on the brink of potentially becoming the first woman, first Black woman, first South-Asian woman, and first HBCU graduate to assume the role of President Of The United States. And where better to spend this pivotal day than at her alma mater, the iconic Howard University in Washington, DC?

In an age where AI dominates the media landscape and misinformation runs rampant, uplifting young Black journalists is more critical than ever. To meet the challenge of the moment, NewsOne is exclusively partnering with the student journalists at Howard’s Cathy Hughes School of Communication, which is named for the founder of Urban One and is also NewsOne’s parent company. The students will deliver unprecedented Election Day coverage from on campus.

This collaboration will showcase the passion, talent, and unique perspecitves of students who are the future of media during one the of most momentous nights in election history.

Howard’s Election Day coverage, called the “Bison Election Zone,” created by award-winning journalist, author, and professor Dr. Stacey Patton, will begin live-streaming at noon on Tuesday. The marathon broadcast will highlight a dynamic blend of student-produced content, micro-debates, interviews, games, and live music interludes. Hosting the day’s programming will be a stellar lineup of Howard student reporters, joined by iWoman TV’s Cathleen Trigg Jones and WHUR’s Shorty Corleone. NewsOne will also be premiering the live stream on our website.

Beyond the day’s coverage, the livestream will feature conversations with celebrity alumni and civil rights leaders such as Ben Crump and Rev. Al Sharpton, who will weigh in on what this moment means for the Black community and democracy at large.

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Source: The Washington Post / Getty

A unique aspect of the Bison Election Zone is the opportunity it presents for student journalists to work alongside seasoned media professionals.

Throughout the day, viewers can expect to see:

• Micro-debates: Fast-pace, two-minute debates on key issues such as climate change and student loan debt, led by the university’s debate team and their coach.
• Powerful stories: Student-produced content on Black formerly incarcerated men reflecting on Trump’s presidential bid despite his convictions.
• Interactive features: An engaging “MAGA Hat” social experiment, capturing the humor and poignancy of students wearing MAGA hats on campus and sharing their experiences.
• Legacy Deep Dive: A feature by a fifth-generation Howard student using archival footage to illustrate that Howard has always been at the forefront of cultivating greatness—a lineage that includes Vice President Harris
• Insightful interviews: Discussions with Dr. Melissa Clark on the health of Black America and an update on voter suppression from the NAACP.
• HBCU trivia and fun: Interactive trivia segments and Go-Go music breaks between segments

“It has long been a mission of mine to pave the way for the next generation of Black journalists—the truth-tellers, vision makers, and cultural curators of our time,” iOne Digital Vice President of Content Kirsten West Savali said in a statement. “This is one of Dr. Stacey Patton’s lifelong goals as well, and something we’ve talked about for many years. iONE Digital is beyond proud to pass the mic to emerging journalists at Howard University’s Cathy Hughes School of Communications, named after Urban One Inc.’s indomitable Chairwoman & Founder, on this consequential moment in our nation’s history. We are the authors of our own stories. Let it be written.”

NewsOne’s partnership with Howard University encapsulates the power of HBCUs as incubators of brilliance and social change. The Bison Election Zone promises a once-in-a-lifetime media experience, blending in-depth journalism, real-time coverage, and heartfelt storytelling. As history unfolds, this Election Day at Mecca will not just be documented—it will be experienced through the eyes of the future of media and what it means to stand at the intersection of history and hope.

Join us and witness the next generation of Black journalists make their mark on Nov. 5—you don’t want to miss it.

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SEE ALSO:

Rise Up And Fight: New ‘Freedom Advances’ Voting Campaign Launches For The Election

The 2024 Presidential Election’s Closing Arguments For Black America