Penn students cover Clinton presidential campaign appearance

As soon as Penn High School broadcast instructor Kevin McNulty heard that Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was going to make a campaign appearance at the AM General Commercial Assembly plant in Mishawaka on Tuesday, April 26, he quickly turned it into a learning experience for three Penn High School students.

McNulty was able to send a crew of Penn News Network students to AM General to cover Clinton’s appearance there. Click here to see the students coverage on PNN.

The students were also profiled by WSBT-TV and ABC 57:

“The minute I heard the news report, I started emailing and calling,” McNulty said of trying to arrange Clinton campaign appearance credentials for student reporters Emily Vetne, Cameron Carpenter, and Tyler Clifton of Penn Network News.

“In hearing my students talk to local media about the experience today (CBS, ABC, NBC affiliates), I know that they got a real-world, hands-on experience,” McNulty said. “They worked side-by-side in the press corps with professionals who do this for a living. Prior to that, the students only knew what we do by doing it in school, more of an assignment than a job.

“Now that they have seen the pros do it (repeatedly), they get it,” McNulty continued. “It's the First Amendment freedom, freedom of the press, and engaging in it is good work. I certainly selected the right kids too; they absorbed it all like sponges!”

Penn’s student reporters met Clinton, and also did interviews with Indiana Senator Joe Donnelly, and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Pictured above is PNN student reporter Emily Vetne interviewing Donnelly.

McNulty said that the learning moment made a significant impact on his students.

“Though they enjoyed all of it (including the secret service sweep, the conversations with local reporters, the introductions to state senators and state governors), I think those tete-a-tetes on camera proved to be the richest experiences,” McNulty said.

On Thursday, April 28, Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz will hold a rally at the Century Center in downtown South Bend. The PNN students plan on covering that event as well.