@UTSreports on the election beat offering alternative #ausvotes election coverage

Saturday, 2 July 2016

Twitter is your front row seat to elections around the world, where pollies, pundits and punters instinctively turn to join the political conversation. For journalists and newsrooms, it is the only tool that allows you to break news, share your coverage, and discover real-time, public content from the scene and from the source.

For the #ausvotes Federal election this year, a group of students from University of Technology, Sydney (@UTSengage) created their own alternative news channel using Twitter and Periscope exclusively. Through @UTSreports the student journalists broadcast 140 seconds of video every 15 minutes throughout polling day, all grouped under the hashtag #UTSreports.

A team of more than 25 journalism, digital media and communication students worked together to provide comprehensive coverage throughout the day. Their base was the @TwitterAU#BlueRoom studio where they interviewed guests, answered questions via the #AskUTS hashtag, and revealed live results to Twitter Polls run throughout the day.



The #UTSreports team also hit polling stations across Australia in key seats ranging from inner-city electorates like Warringah and Grayndler, to regional areas such as New England and Gilmore.



And with the power of Periscope they were even able to go live, direct from the scene.



The students engaged with a few famous faces along the way such as Independent candidate @jamesmathison, Deputy Opposition Leader @tanya_plibersek, Foreign Minister @JulieBishopMP and even the Prime Minister @turnbullmalcolm himself!




And as Twitter continues to be the best way to stay informed about the world, we can expect more use cases of innovation in the world of journalism.