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They came from Hawaii, Colorado, North Carolina, Washington, D.C., and from as far away as Italy and Switzerland to cover what many considered to be a major historic event not just for South Carolina, but Orangeburg.
“Not only did we have the first primary in the South, but we have the first debate of the entire campaign season. That speaks a lot for the state. You can talk about the education issue and how having this debate at a university draws a lot of attention to where our priorities are politically,” said Jackie Faye, a University of South Carolina student, who was covering the debate for The Carolina News.
The Carolina News is a daily television show produced by the USC School of Journalism. Faye was joined by fellow USC student Anna Fox while on assignment for the broadcast.
“I think South Carolina is a diverse state, and so it would show a lot of views from across the nation, maybe more so than an Iowa and New Hampshire. It’s just a lot of fun to experience it all for the first time,” Faye said of the debate.
Fox said the event allowed both she and Faye to interact with other professionals and individuals who could potentially become the next leader of the United States.
“We have 600 media outlets here and, as students, you don’t often get to have that kind of exposure, where you’re surrounded with high-profile anchors and reporters. As a college student, you can look back and say, ’Well, when candidates were running for president in ’08, I got to interview them. I got to ask them a questions. I watched them perform at South Carolina with the debate,“’ Fox said. “I feel like that’s not an opportunity most journalism students in college can say they’ve had.”
Diego Gilardoni, the U.S. correspondent for Swiss TV, said he was covering the debate with lots of interest.
“We are covering the elections, which is followed with a lot of interest in Europe, especially what’s going on between Obama and Hillary. It’s an opportunity to show how the candidates are doing so early,” Gilardoni said.
“It also shows another part of the United States. We’re going out from Washington, D.C., which is the capital, but it’s not the United States. I’d like to show a different reality. South Carolina is a very different reality and very interesting for us.
“What I’ve found very interesting so far is that almost all the young people and black people are either with Obama or Hillary, and just a few are out for Edwards, who is coming from South Carolina. That’s very interesting,” Gilardoni said.
Campbell Freeman, a broadcast operator with the South Carolina ETV network, said he actually had to set up operations for three programs surrounding the debate.
“We did a Project Discovery, which was about the election that’s done for school children throughout the state. And, then we’re also backing up MSNBC tonight. We’re also doing our own program called ’The Big Picture,’ which will incorporate elements of that,” Freeman said. “It’s just part of our ongoing efforts for news and public affairs to inform the state. I’m more of a nuts-and-bolts person. I’m the uplink person.”
Freeman said he was in familiar territory in Orangeburg, noting that the debate was a tremendous event for the city.
“It’s a big event. Obviously, we’re looking forward to an election, and there are going to be a lot of important people here. I’ve done satellite uplinks for over 20 years, and I’ve never seen this many uplink trucks in one place at one time.
“It is very beautiful here. I’ve been here several times recently, and I grew up not far from here in Barnwell County. I came a lot as a child,” Freeman said.
Bernard Legette, an associate editor with the Columbia, S.C.-based Black News publication, said it was important to come to Orangeburg for the debate.
“This is an historical moment, being the first debate in the presidential primary for 2008. I think it’s very important that the black community gain a perspective on it and what the debate is all about. It’s a way to relay the issues that the candidates can discuss and to see if those issues are along the lines of what our community really needs and wants,” Legette said.
“South Carolina is very important to this election. It’s probably the gateway to the 2008 election. Probably the winner in this primary, Republican or Democratic, will go on to the national convention for each party and become its nominee,” said Legette, adding that he was enjoying the atmosphere.
“I’m well familiar with Orangeburg. I’m a graduate of Benedict College, but I used to come here all the time. I have friends that went to South Carolina State. It’s a beautiful city. It has a rich history. It’s growing, and now it’s on the map nationally. State’s just keeping in with tradition,” he said.
John Farrell, a reporter with The Denver Post, said the debate was important to cover because “it’s the first one of many, but it’s still the first one.”
“A lot of attention is going to be on it, and it’s much nicer to go to South Carolina in April or May than is it to go to New Hampshire or Iowa in December,” said Farrell, noting that South Carolina is a pivotal state in the race for the presidency.
“You guys are very important, especially this year because whoever wins these first few little states ... is gonna get some momentum. I’m personally interested in seeing how Mrs. Clinton does, whether or not there’s any tremendous outpouring of support for Sen. Obama and whether or not Sen. Edwards has any hometown advantage,” Farrell said.
“Congressman Clyburn is a great testament to seniority in Congress. He was able to bring us all down here to see a part of the country that we probably never would have visited before,” he said, noting that the barbecue also played a role.
“That’s the secret of why the debate is here. That’s why we keep coming back to the South,” Farrell said, laughing.
David Allio with United Press International traveled all the way from Hawaii to cover the debate.
“I’m based out of Washington, D.C., but I came from Hawaii for this assignment. I was assigned by UPI three years ago to do the debates that were hosted at the Peace Center in Greenville, Tenn. So, the assignment fell to me again three years later instead of four years later,” he said.
Allio said the event was significant for the Orangeburg area.
“Absolutely. If you take a look and see how many members of the media are here, you have every major outlet from the world in your press center here. It’s incredible the amount of coverage that’s coming out of this,” Allio said.
“All eyes are on Orangeburg and South Carolina State University at this point.”
The Orangeburg-based Times and Democrat newspaper was the host of the barbecue reception for the media.
T&D Publisher Cathy Hughes said she was happy to be able to sponsor the event.
“We’re obviously glad to see a good turnout of the media here and a good turnout of the university and city and county leadership as well. This has turned into a very good community event,” Hughes said.
Dionne Gleaton writes for the Times and Democrat and can be reached by e-mail at dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5534. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.
To the two first posts wrote on Apr 27, 2007 4:26 PM: