On Saturday we broadcast coverage of the Federal Election Count from 7pm to 11pm Eastern Australian time.

The students, working under the banner of The Junction, partnered with the Community Radio Network to broadcast on community radio stations across Australia as well as streaming online.

A team of more than 40 students put the program to air. The broadcast headquarters were at Swinburne University in Melbourne, where the on-air hosts were supported by teams of reporters, producers and technicians.

An analysis team crunched the numbers and a social media team updated audiences through The Junction’s social media channels.

A team of reporters based in key and marginal electorates around Australia covered developments as the votes were counted.

Junction Editor Andrew Dodd said the broadcast would provide journalism students with invaluable real-world experience of broadcasting.

“For many students, this will be the first time they have broadcast ‘live’ and they will doing so on one of, if not, the biggest story of the year,” Associate Professor Dodd said.

“This broadcast will enable students to demonstrate the journalism knowledge and skills they have gained at university while also learning how to manage the challenges and pressure of ‘live’ broadcasting.

Associate Professor Dodd said the broadcast would once again show the value of The Junction’s purpose.

“We have a large newsroom of journalists in our partner universities around Australia and this broadcast demonstrates how we can produce journalism of national significance from a local level.

“The students will be showing that the coverage of an event is not just focused on one medium. Our website and social media accounts will also be an important of the election coverage.”