Gain real-world experience The Experience Lab

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

Register for the fall 2023 Experience Lab, no application required

Join the CoJMC Experience Lab in the fall 2023 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, 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 as volunteers without registering for the class. Contact Jill Martin (jmartin42@unl.edu) or Jemalyn Griffin (jgriffin6@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 volunteer. 

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

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.

Nebraska News Service Logo
Statewide Wire Service

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

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

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

Visit KRNU

Heartland  Logo
An Online Community Magazine for Nebraska

Heartland is a new student-run webzine. Students will work to produce digital content for Nebraska audiences

Visit Heartland

Unlimited Sports Logo
Nebraska Sports Reporting

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.

Bayley Bischof

Assignment Manager/ Senior Reporter
10/11 News

bayley.bischof@1011now.com

Bayley Bischof bio

Eva Coppinger

Video Producer
Asa & Eva Media

aecoppinger@gmail.com

Eva Coppinger bio

Shaun Cummins

senior technical director
KLKN-TV

scummins@klkntv.com

Shaun Cummins bio

Hannah Davis

Marketing Coordinator
Union Bank & Trust

hannah.davis@ubt.com

Hannah Davis bio

Erin Doernemann

Marketing and Design Specialist
Apple Roofing

erin.doernemann@appleroof.com

Erin Doernemann bio

Amy Ebbeka

Co-Owner / Creative Director
Ebbeka Design Co.

amy@ebbekadesign.com

Amy Ebbeka bio

Randy Hawthorne

product manager
Nelnet

rdhawthorne@gmail.com

Randy Hawthorne bio

Derek Hernandez

director of brand and content
Mentor Collective

derekjhernandez@gmail.com

Derek Hernandez bio

Amie Just

Sports Columnist
Lincoln Journal Star

ajust@journalstar.com

Amie Just bio

Mikel Lauber

director of news
10/11 News, KSNB Local 4, KNOP News 2

mikel.lauber@1011now.com

Mikel Lauber bio

Mike McKnight

Investigative Reporter SIx On Your Side
WOWT-TV

mike.mcknight@wowt.com

Mike McKnight bio

Austin Pistulka

Broadcast/Digital Production Director
Rural Radio Association

apistulka@ruralradio.com

Austin Pistulka bio

Mary Kay Quinlan

Emeriti Associate Dean and Associate Professor
University of Nebraska-Lincoln

ohaeditor@gmail.com

Mary Kay Quinlan bio

Ryan Rothman

Marketing & Digital Media Coordinator
University of Nebraska System

rrothman@nebraska.edu

Ryan Rothman bio

DeWayne Taylor

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

booking@dewaynetaylor.com

DeWayne Taylor bio

Mike Tobias

senior producer
Nebraska Public Media

mtobias@nebraskapublicmedia.org

Mike Tobias bio

Jon Vanderford

Executive Producer and Host
KOLN/KGIN TV

jon.vanderford@1011now.com

Jon Vanderford bio

Andrew Ward

morning anchor
KLKN-TV

award@klkntv.com

Andrew Ward bio

Ellis Wiltsey

Senior Content Producer
10/11 News

ellis.wiltsey@1011now.com

Ellis Wiltsey bio

Matt Wynn

Executive Director
Nebraska Journalism Trust

mwynn@flatwaterfreepress.org

Matt Wynn bio

Contact the co-directors with questions

Jemalyn Griffin

Jemalyn Griffin is an assistant professor of practice and director of the Jacht Agency.

Before joining CoJMC, Jemalyn served as the the Director of Content and Digital Marketing Services at Harvard University's Division of Continuing Education.

Contact Jemalyn
Jemalyn Griffin portrait
Jill Martin

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

Jill Martin 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

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

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