We the People/ Wisconsin is a multi-media partnership that provides timely forums so that citizens can question political candidates, public officials -- and themselves.

Local News Roundtable

On Monday, October 15th from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Edgewood College, more than 80 citizens, journalists and community leaders will gather to discuss the role of media in our communities. Local News Roundtable is sponsored by We the People/Wisconsin, the Race and Media Task Force and the Center for Democracy in Action at Edgewood. The forum is free and open to the public. To register, call toll free 1-888-286-8314.

The Local News project has two major components. A national prime time PBS series, beginning Tuesday, October 9th, will provide a five-hour, behind-the-scenes examination of how local news is created, and its effect on one American community. Using the newsroom decisions and community stories documented by the series, nationwide discussions will then engage news professionals, civic and business leaders and the public about how news coverage can better contribute to the health of communities in the United States. We the People/Wisconsin, as one of 10 host sites chosen for this project, will partner with the Race and Media Task Force and the Center for Democracy in Action to bring community members and news professionals together. The forum will explore ways to make local news more responsive to community interests and to examine the media's impact on democracy.

The Oct. 15th Local News Roundtable will feature a "Newsroom Deadline Exercise" that allows participants to engage in mock news meetings. Participants will then have an opportunity to ask questions of the forum's media panel during a roundtable discussion. Panelists include Frank Denton of the Wisconsin State Journal, Phil Haslanger of The Capital Times, Mike McKinney of WMTV-TV (NBC, Madison), Carmelyn Daley of WISC-TV (CBS, Madison) and Bob Miller of WKOW-TV (ABC, Madison). In addition, Ali Pomeroy, producer of the five-week PBS series, will talk about the documentary that begins Tuesday, October 9th on stations across the country.

By expanding the public's critical awareness of how local news is produced, by highlighting how key news decisions are made, and by bringing citizen voices into the ongoing national debate, LOCAL NEWS can have a major impact on the future of media and democracy.

Learn more about the series online at www.pbs.org/insidelocalnews. Learn more about the national public engagement campaign at www.roundtablemedia.com/localnews.

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LOCAL NEWS ROUNDTABLE
Monday, October 15th, 2001 from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Washburn-Heritage Room in Regina Hall, Edgewood College
To register call toll free 1-888-286-8314 or locally at 258-0107

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
6:00 to 6:30 p.m.
REGISTRATION AND REFRESHMENTS

6:30 to 6:45 p.m.
Introduction and Welcome Remarks

  • Who we are
  • Why we are here
  • What we have set out to do

6:45 to 7:15 p.m.
"Deadline Decision" exercise

Groups of 8 citizens will act as either a newspaper or commercial television newsroom for this role reversal assignment. Each group will hold a collaborative "news meeting" to determine how to play a list of stories and photos, with an editor/news director appointed from the group to make final decisions.

7:15 to 7:45 p.m.
Report out by groups

Each "newsroom" will give a 3-5 minute report on what decisions were made.

7:45 to 7:55 p.m.
Local News video - Introduction by Ali Pomeroy, producer of PBS Local News series

7:55 to 8:55 p.m.
Media panel discussion and interactive dialogue

Panel members and roundtable participants will discuss the "Deadline Decision" exercise and how it relates to citizen perceptions and day-to-day newsroom decision-making practices. Panelists include:
  • Frank Denton, editor, Wisconsin State Journal
  • Phil Haslanger, managing editor, The Capital Times
  • Mike McKinney, news anchor, NBC 15 (NBC, Madison)
  • Carmelyn Daley, news director, WISC-TV (CBS, Madison)
  • Bob Miller, general manager, WKOW-TV (ABC, Madison)

8:55 to 9:00 p.m.
Summary and closing remarks