About Spartan Newsroom

Students work together in the Spartan Newsroom at the Michigan State University School of Journalism.

Jeremy Steele

Students work together in the Spartan Newsroom at the Michigan State University School of Journalism.

About this website

Spartan Newsroom provides news and information about campus and the surrounding Michigan State University community. Content is produced by students enrolled in classes at or participating in extracurricular clubs affiliated with Michigan State’s School of Journalism.

Our goal is to use the Spartan Newsroom to provide a public service to the community while giving hands-on lessons about journalism to students.

About the Spartan Newsroom space

The physical Spartan Newsroom in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences features a multimedia broadcast studio with space for students enrolled in a variety of journalism courses to learn while practicing professional journalism standards.

Alumnus John Gruner, who earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from MSU in 1974, honored the late Professor Mary Gardner by providing the lead gift for the Spartan Newsroom. Gardner was a professor in the School of Journalism from 1966 to 1991.

Our reporting teams

Work published on Spartan Newsroom could come from a variety of classes in the School of Journalism’s curriculum. These are the main sources of our coverage:

Community news

While students in a variety of classes may report about news throughout the region, coverage of the communities surrounding Michigan State’s campus is led by students in the Multimedia Writing and Reporting (JRN 300). This course combines lessons about public affairs with the journalistic skills required report the news via text, audio and visuals.

Faculty coordinator: Joe Grimm

Capital News Service

CNS reporters cover state government for member newspapers and digital media outlets across the state of Michigan. Student reporters are enrolled in Capital News Service (JRN 420 or JRN 820).  Learn more about CNS

Faculty coordinator: Eric Freedman

Focal Point TV news

Focal Point is the student-produced newscast at Michigan State University. The purpose of the newscast is to not only provide news and information to the MSU community, but to give students the opportunity to learn about broadcasting in all forms: reporting; shooting and editing video; and writing. Focal Point is produced by students enrolled in TV News (JRN 403) and Advanced TV News & Producing (JRN 406). Learn more about Focal Point

Faculty coordinator: Bob Gould

News Update

News Update is  newscast produced by students enrolled in the course “Radio, Podcasting and TV News” (JRN 306) in the School of Journalism at Michigan State University.

Faculty coordinators: Mike Castellucci and Troy Hale

Spartan Sports Report

The Spartan Sports Report is a student-run sports highlight and analysis show filmed in the Spartan Newsroom at Michigan State University. The program is produced as an extracurricular activity in partnership with the Sports Journalism class (JRN 317). Learn more about Spartan Sports Report

Faculty coordinator: L.A. Dickerson

Contact us

Spartan Newsroom is a collaborative effort of students and faculty in the School of Journalism. We recommend you contact us via the below form so we can more easily direct your message to the correct person.

Have a story idea or question about content on this site?

    Contact the School of Journalism

    Michigan State University School of Journalism
    404 Wilson Road, Room 305
    East Lansing, MI 48824
    517-353-6430
    jrn.msu.edu