CNS covers news at the state capital in Lansing and across Michigan for member papers from September to early May.

Correspondents are selected from undergraduate and master's students within the School of Journalism and College of Communication Arts and Sciences by an application process.

During each semester, correspondents report on state government, politics and public policy for daily and weekly newspapers and online news outlets across Michigan.

Following Cote’s retirement, Professor Eric Freedman, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for the Detroit News, became CNS director.

Freedman currently heads the program and teaches it alongside David Poulson, the senior associate director of MSU’s Knight Center for Environmental Journalism.