CNN Reporter John King Speaks With Students

CNN Chief National Correspondent John King spoke this morning with 15 Saint Anselm College students assisting the network with debate preparations. The informal conversation covered everything from how King broke into TV journalism to his work covering six presidential elections and reporting from south Asia following the 2004 tsunami.

King explained the importance of getting outside of Washington and New York and visiting small-town America to get the real perspective on the issues. “The best thing you can do whether you want to cover city hall or the White House is to go visit a community you’ve never been to before and sit in the back seat of a school committee meeting and listen… that’s where the issues that matter are discussed,” said King.

On the current front loading of the presidential primaries, King thinks a spread out system of primaries is better for the country and for the two political parties. “There is a balance that can preserve and protect Iowa and New Hampshire and the charm at the beginning of the calendar and bring some of the [other states] up. How to rotate or regulate that is the hard part.”

King discussed how TV journalists in his position have to always be mindful of the information they are reporting. “If you are talking about stuff that is sensitive, you will, in the course of your speaking, move financial markets,” he said, recounting a specific instance where he was reporting from the lawn of the White House following the resignation of President Clinton’s Treasury Secretary Robert Rubins in July 1999.

TV is an entirely different medium than print. It’s in many cases radio, since people are going about their daily lives and listening rather than watching. On TV, you need to get people’s attention.

“An average TV live shot is about a minute and a half, so the pictures have to complement what I’m saying. I’ve got to get you to watch, so I need a line or two at the top that makes you stop what you are doing and look at the TV.” said King.

“You get one shot, so you better choose your words carefully.”

For the complete conversation in its entirely, click on the audio file included with this post.

Students Discuss Their Experiences Working the CNN Debates

Some 51 Saint Anselm College students have been working closely with CNN on debate preparations since late last week. These students and their 10-hour plus work days have played a critical role in making the debates a reality. Students have worked with CNN’s news anchors, correspondents, set designers, marketing and public relation staff, and others running errands, standing in for set checks (lighting, sound, video), moving sets, and many other important roles.

In the meantime, they’ve got to know many of CNN’s on-air talent and executives and received an insiders view of all the work that goes into staging a major event like CNN’s Presidential Primary Debates.

Cory True ‘09, a junior politics major from Augusta, Maine (and guest student blogger), had the opportunity to interview two students about their experiences working the debates.

In his first interview, Cory talks with Mark Grasso ‘10, a sophomore politics major. Mark started his week working to transform Sullivan Arena into a debate venue. He then moved on to assisting the CNN marketing staff with installing signage around campus and later to working in the green room of a democratic candidate.

Cory also interviewed Ryan Ollis ‘08, a senior politics and pre-law major from Dudley, Mass. Ryan also helped with the set up of Sullivan Arena working with the debate’s executive producer and later worked as a stand in for CNN News Correspondent John King in the debate’s “spin room.” Ryan’s highlight so far: chauffeuring around CNN’s Wolf Blitzer.

Click on the audio file below to hear Cory True’s audio interview with two Saint Anselm students.

A Day in Pictures

I’ve posted many photos throughout today on Flickr, which you can follow through this blog. We are now 30 minutes into round two of the debates. I’ve been in the media filing center for much of the debate, got a hot meal, and a chance to upload photos.

Be sure to check back with this blog later tonight as we move from the media filing center to the “spin room,” where the candidates and the campaigns come to speak with the media following the debate. We’ll also be posting many photos in the next day or so from some of the great photographers that are covering all angles of the debates.

You can view all of our photos on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/saintanselm. If you’d like to view a flash slideshow of debate images, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/saintanselm/show.

Campaign Supporters Arrive at the College

T-2 hours and counting and the campus is full of satellite trucks, journalists, bloggers, and yes, campaign supporters. Despite a persistent misty rain, campaign supporters began lining up along Saint Anselm Drive early this afternoon. Its a back and forth, give and take game of chants, car horns, and noise makers.

Listen to the attached audio sample of some sounds along Saint Anselm Drive this afternoon.

Just as I was coming up the hill from the NHIOP, campaign supporters began to depart from their curbs along Saint Anselm Drive to an area in the vicinity of Sullivan Arena, the location of tonight’s debates.

Earlier this afternoon, I watched as the CNN crew and the many Saint Anselm students assisting with debate prep stood in for final lighting, sound, and camera checks and practiced in unison the changing of the debate set from podiums to chairs.

The Carr Center has turned into the debate’s press center welcoming 600 journalists from all major networks and countries worldwide. Stoughtenburgh Gym will become the focus after the debates as the candidates, campaign managers, and journalists use the building as a “spin room,” where debate performances will be evaluated and graded.

Stay tuned for more…

Follow Saint Anselm Students on Archaeological Dig in Orvieto, Italy

Students from Saint Anselm College join the University of Oklahoma Center for Classical Archaeology and Civilizations in Italy this May and June. You can follow the progress of the excavation by visiting www.anselmclassics.com. Students will be blogging, podcasting, and posting photos regularly during the time of the dig.

The excavation project is near Castel Viscardo, a town located at the southwest edge of Umbria approximately 8 miles northwest of Orvieto. Preliminary inspection of the area indicated the remains of what seems to be a Roman villa. This ‘villa’ lies immediately at the base of the immanence on which Castel Viscardo is located.

Last season (2006) uncovered many intriguing finds which posed more questions than answers. This 2007 season will focus on expanding trenches and unearthing clues which we hope will help us to unlock the mystery of the site.

Included below are links to some recent blog posts and podcasts.

Links ›› About the Project • Podcasts • Photo Gallery • Project Blog

[rsslist:http://rss.mac.com/lindarulman/iWeb/Site%202/Blog/rss.xml]

[rsslist:http://rss.mac.com/lindarulman/iWeb/Site%202/Podcasts/rss.xml]

	Subscribe to Orvieto Podcast (iTunes)
	Subscribe to Orvieto Blog

Saint Anselm College Debate News for 2007-06-02

• CampaignsAndElections.com - “Campaigns Ready for New Hampshire Debates” - http://tinyurl.com/27au98
• U.S. News & World Report - “New Hampshire Fights to Keep Ahead” - http://tinyurl.com/3buf6y
• UnionLeader.com - “Foreign Reporters See ‘Star Power’ in Democrats” - http://tinyurl.com/2evbjl
• CNN.com - ” New Hampshire Boasts Proud, Personal Political Tradition” - http://tinyurl.com/2anrr9
• ABCNews.com - “New Hampshire GOP Battle Each Other” w/ Great photo of debate setup - http://tinyurl.com/2ao9sp
• Seacoast Online (Portsmouth, NH) - Prof. Dean Spiliotes Quoted in article “Will Dems Play Nice at Debate?” - http://tinyurl.com/3748zq
• Eagle Tribune (Mass.) - Emily Rocheleau ‘07 and Saint Anselm professor Dean Spiliotes are quoted in this article - http://tinyurl.com/ype4mx

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