Gain real-world experience The Experience Lab

Programs Professionals in Residence
Student looking at screen
Do From Day One

Register for the fall 2024 Experience Lab, no application required

Join the CoJMC Experience Lab for the fall 2024 semester. The Experience Lab gives students a chance to gain hands-on experience from the first semester they enroll in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications at UNL. Working with faculty liaisons and professional mentors, students will build their academic skill set while exploring their professional interests in one of the college's media outlets.

More Details
  • Students can earn 1 credit and work 4-6 hours per week
  • Programs include KRNU, Buoy, Heartland, Nebraska Nightly, Production House, Unlimited Sports and the Nebraska News Service. After registration, students will receive a survey from the program managers asking for their top three program preferences.
  • Day-to-day projects will vary depending on the program
  • To register for course credit, select JOMC 197, 297 or 397 in MyRed.
  • Students can join without registering for the class. Contact Jill Martin (jmartin42@unl.edu) or Dave Remund (remund@unl.edu) for more information.
  • Experience Lab meetings will be on Tuesdays from 3:30-5:15 p.m. 
  • An additional 3 hours per week will be required outside of the required Tuesday meeting time during varied lab times as it works with student schedules
  • Student leaders will mentor first-year and second-year students and manage day-to-day operations.

Register in MyRed or contact the co-directors to join without registering for class credit.

About the Experience Lab

The Experience Lab gives students a chance to gain hands-on experience from the first semester they enroll in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications at UNL. Working with faculty liaisons and professional mentors, students will build their academic skill set while exploring their professional interests in one of the college's media outlets.

More Details
  • Students will earn 1 credit and work 4-6 hours per week
  • Day-to-day projects will vary depending on the program
  • All students will be required to register for JOMC 197, 297 or 397, which will be on Tuesdays from 3:30-5:15 p.m. 
  • An additional 3 hours per week will be required outside of the required Tuesday meeting time 
  • Student leaders will mentor first-year and second-year students and manage day-to-day operations

The Experience Lab Programs

Buoy logo
An Agency for Nonprofits

T 3:30-5:15 p.m. | R 3:30-5:15 p.m.

Students will work for real-world clients who are looking for services in advertising and public relations. Buoy provides services for non-profit organizations and local community partners.

Visit Buoy's Instagram Page

Nebraska News Service Logo
Statewide Wire Service

M 8:30-10:20 a.m. | W 8:30-10:20 a.m.

Nebraska News Service is a state news wire service that provides stories written by UNL student journalists to more than 100 community news organizations.

Visit Nebraska News Service

Nebraska Nightly Logo
Live News Show

T 3:30-5:20 p.m. | F 1:30-5:20 p.m.

Nebraska Nightly is a student-produced recorded show. Students will work to produce video and audio content for Lincoln and Nebraska audiences.

Visit Nebraska Nightly

KRNU Logo
The Campus Radio Station

T 3:30-5:20 p.m. | R 1:30-5:20 p.m.

The student-led radio station provides entertainment and highlights important events happening in the local community.

Visit KRNU

Heartland Pulse Logo
A Nebraska-focused Lifestyle Brand

T 3:30-5:20 p.m. | R 3:30-5:20 p.m.

The Heartland Pulse is a lifestyle brand. Students will work to produce digital content that showcases how young adults life, work, and play in Nebraska.

Visit Heartland

Production House Logo
A Video Production Team

M 8:30-10:20 a.m. | W 8:30-10:20 a.m.

At Production House students work for real-world clients who are in need of video and digital media services.

Visit the Production House Instagram Page

Unlimited Sports Logo
Nebraska Sports Reporting

M 8:30-10:20 a.m. | W 8:30-10:20 a.m.

Unlimited Sports is an online student-led sports program that produces stories covering sports in the community.

Visit Unlimited Sports

Professionals in Residence

Partner organizations from throughout Nebraska have donated the time of their talented staff to support students in the Experience Lab. These dedicated professionals provide mentorship and guidance to students. We are incredibly grateful for the support and dedication of these outstanding professionals and their organizations.

Brett Baker

Senior Producer
Straight Arrow News

phone icon402.472.3041

bbaker@san.com

Brett Baker bio

Bayley Bischof

Assignment Manager/ Senior Reporter
10/11 News

phone icon402.472.3041

bayley.bischof@1011now.com

Bayley Bischof bio

Zack Carpenter

Owner and Publisher
Inside Nebraska

phone icon402.472.3041

zackcarpenter11@gmail.com

Zack Carpenter bio

Mikel Lauber

director of news
KOLN/KGIN 1011 News, KSNB Local 4, KNOP News 2

phone icon402.472.3041

mikel.lauber@1011now.com

Mikel Lauber bio

Mike McKnight

Investigative Reporter
WOWT-TV

phone icon402.472.3041

mike.mcknight@wowt.com

Mike McKnight bio

Heath Miller

Promotions/Graphic Artist
10/11 News

phone icon402.472.3041

heath.miller@gray.tv

Heath Miller bio

Kelley Peterson

Lecturer/t
Advertising & Public Relations

phone icon402.472.3041

kpeterson53@unl.edu

Kelley Peterson bio

Austin Pistulka

Broadcast/Digital Production Director
Rural Radio Association

phone icon402.472.3041

apistulka@ruralradio.com

Austin Pistulka bio

Beau Poehlman

Video Production Supervisor
Ameritas

phone icon402.472.3041

bpoehlman@unl.edu

Beau Poehlman bio

Mary Kay Quinlan

Emeriti Associate Dean and Associate Professor
University of Nebraska-Lincoln

phone icon402.472.3041

ohaeditor@gmail.com

Mary Kay Quinlan bio

Tony Sattler

Executive Vice President, Director of Experience & Insights
Swanson Russell

phone icon402.472.3041

tonys@swansonrussell.com

Tony Sattler bio

Erin Sorensen

Founder
hello eso: marketing + branding

phone icon402.472.3041

erin.sorensen@unl.edu

Erin Sorensen bio

DeWayne Taylor

Master of Ceremonies and Radio Host
D-Wayne/NRG Media's Red 94.5

phone icon402.472.3041

booking@dewaynetaylor.com

DeWayne "D-Wayne" Taylor bio

Mike Tobias

senior producer
Nebraska Public Media

phone icon402.472.3041

mtobias@nebraskapublicmedia.org

Mike Tobias bio

Jon Vanderford

Executive Producer and Host
KOLN/KGIN 1011 News

phone icon402.472.3041

jon.vanderford@1011now.com

Jon Vanderford bio

Kent Warneke

Editor emeritus
Norfolk Daily News

phone icon402.472.3041

kentwarneke@gmail.com

Kent Warneke bio

Sarah Wischhof

Assistant Vice President - Marketing
Union Bank & Trust

phone icon402.472.3041

sarah.wischhof@ubt.com

Sarah Wischhof bio

Matt Wynn

Executive Director
Nebraska Journalism Trust

phone icon402.472.3041

mwynn@flatwaterfreepress.org

Matt Wynn bio

Contact the co-directors with questions

Jill Martin

Jill Martin is an assistant professor of practice and director of the Nebraska News Service.

Jill has two decades of experience in newspapers and broadcast news in Nebraska, including experience as the managing editor of the Seward County Independent.

Contact Jill
Jill Martin portrait
Dave Remund

Dave Remund is an assistant professor of practice and executive director of Buoy, a mission-driven and student-led agency.

Dave has more than three decades of professional experience in strategic communications, including leadership roles within three Fortune 500 corporations.

Contact Dave
Dave Remund portrait

The Experience Lab is powered by the generous support of our sponsors.

Agent Logo
Bailey Lauerman Logo
Digital Sky Logo
Eleanor Creative Logo
Firespring Logo
KidGlov Logo
Look East Logo
Maly Marketing Logo
Meier Foundation Logo
Nebraska Broadcasters Association Logo
OBI Creative Logo
Pepsi Logo
Perry Family
Pixel Bakery Logo
Revolution Wraps Logo
Swanson Russell Logo
Union Bank and Trust Logo