Belmont University | FYI


October 10, 2008

BELMONT NEWS


Debate08 Garners Extensive Media Coverage
Coverage.jpgThe 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate at Belmont garnered the university massive media exposure with thousands of hits on radio and television along with print publicity worth millions of dollars. Though it would be impossible to list all of Belmont's media hits from the past two weeks, here are a few samples of interesting coverage brought about by the debate and debate-related programming:

• Belmont Vision Editor Melanie Bengtson did a number of interviews about the debate and the Vision's coverage, including her participation in a nationally broadcast NPR roundtable the day after the debate. Other panelists sharing opinions about the debate were Maria Teresa Peterson, executive director of Voto Latino (a voter education and outreach group), Dwight Lewis, editorial page editor for The Tennessean, and NPR Political Editor Ken Rudin. Click here to listen to the discussion.

• In addition, make sure to check out coverage from The Vision, Belmont's student media Web site, which includes hundreds of photos as well as blogs and video segments about the debate and all the activities surrounding it.

• Last night's special election edition of "Saturday Night Live" included an opening segment with several mentions of Belmont University and an image of the Curb Event Center. Click here to watch the eight-minute segment.

• Dr. Andi Stepnick's "Introduction to Sociology" class was featured in a NewsChannel 5 report. Stepnick and her students were interviewed about the agents of socialization, the development of political identity and the factors that shape political views.

• The Tennessean covered numerous local angles on the debate, including embedding reporter Colby Sledge on campus for most of the past month. Click here to see the paper's complete coverage.

• Archived video of additional local coverage can be found on NewsChannel 5, WSMV 4, WKRN 2 and FOX-17.

Bredesen, Baker Co-Host Forum on Civility in Politics
JMK_4187.jpgGov. Phil Bredesen and First Lady Andrea Conte, former Sen. Howard Baker and the University of Tennessee's Baker Center for Public Policy, Belmont University, the Tennessee Business Roundtable and the Freedom Forum First Amendment Center hosted a forum Monday on civil discourse in American politics as a prelude to the 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate.

Former CNN anchor Bernard Shaw moderated the one-hour forum assessing this year's presidential race, posing the key question: “Is Uncivil Discourse Sabotaging American Politics and Governance?” The event featured a panel discussion with nationally known media and political experts at Belmont's Troutt Theater. Participants included Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee; Politico managing editor Bill Nichols, a veteran journalist who has covered six presidential elections; former Democratic Congresswoman Pat Schroeder, now president and CEO of the Association of American Publishers; and Mark Whitaker, senior vice president and Washington bureau chief for NBC News. Click here for more on this story.

Governor, First Lady, Dr. Fisher Welcome Declaration of Independence to Tennessee
DOIfisher2.jpgGovernor Phil Bredesen, First Lady Andrea Conte and Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher welcomed a rare, original copy of the Declaration of Independence to Tennessee during a press conference Saturday in the Grand Reading Room of the Nashville Public Library’s downtown branch.

The document – which was on public display Oct. 4-6 in the library – was brought to Nashville by Cricket Communications Inc, a leading provider of unlimited wireless services, in association with Declare Yourself, a nonpartisan youth voter initiative. The arrival in Nashville of America’s founding document was timed to coincide with the 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate at Belmont University. Click here for more on this story.

Belmont Hosts Vesper Service in Preparation for 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate
Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., hosted a Vesper Service at Christ Church Cathedral on Sun., Oct. 5 at 4 p.m., two days before the Town Hall Presidential Debate in the Curb Event Center on the Belmont campus. President Robert Fisher of Belmont presided. Reverend David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World, delivered the homily on Poverty & Debate08. Bread for the World is a citizens’ anti-hunger movement that focuses on education about hunger and influencing public policies on hunger and poverty. Click here for more on this story.

Belmont to Feature Noted Commentators in Interview
Matalin, Carville on www.belmontdebate08.com
carmat.jpgWell-known political commentators Mary Matalin and James Carville are set to be Belmont University’s final guests in its “Behind the Scenes at the Presidential Debates” interview series on the official 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate Web site, www.belmontdebate08.com.

The interviews are part of Belmont University’s series of educational programs and events in conjunction with the debate on Oct. 7, 2008, in the Curb Event Center on the Belmont University campus. Click here for more on this story.


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