Inside Loyola features tonight’s Phil Ponce forum
Posted by loyolastudentdispatch on September 11, 2012
Inside Loyola, Loyola University Chicago’s official online news source, features tonight’s Phil Ponce forum in a cover story.
The forum, titled, Bridging the Great Divide: Partisan Politics, the Press and the Modern Presidential Campaign, at 6 p.m. at Loyola’s downtown Water Tower Campus in Kasbeer Hall, 15th floor of Corboy Law Center.
Panelists include:
Tom Bevan, Co-Founder and Executive Editor of RealClearPolitics Daniel Libit, Political Reporter, The Daily, Kristen McQueary, Editorial Board Member, Chicago Tribune Jim Warren, Editor-at-Large, Newsweek/The Daily Beast
Here is the Inside Loyola story:
By Ashton Mitchell
As the election season kicks into high gear, Loyola is getting into the heat of the debate. Phil Ponce, anchor on WTTW-TV’s Chicago Tonight, and a panel of local journalists and commentators will discuss the increasingly contentious 2012 presidential campaign at a forum titled, “Bridging the Great Divide: Partisan Politics, the Press and the Modern Presidential Campaign,” at 6 p.m. today, Tuesday, September 11 at Loyola’s downtown Water Tower Campus.
Panelists include:
Tom Bevan, Co-Founder and Executive Editor of RealClearPolitics Daniel Libit, Political Reporter, The Daily Kristen McQueary, Editorial Board Member, Chicago Tribune Jim Warren, Editor-at-Large, Newsweek/The Daily Beast
Topics panelists will discuss issues ranging from, “objective” media coverage of the presidential campaign, consequences of the proliferation of partisan news outlets, how the current partisan media landscape shapes how campaigns are run, and whether or not news consumers sample media venues whose politics differ from their own.
John Slania, Loyola’s journalism program director, thinks the forum is an important educational opportunity for students. With many pundits calling this “the most important election of a lifetime,” Slania hopes students will learn about critical topics the press and presidential campaigns deal with during the robust and dynamic discussion.
“As good citizens of this nation, it’s important for students to be informed on issues that will shape their future, and the future of their children: the economy, jobs, health care, immigration, education, and a host of other topics,” says Slania.
Loyola’s School of Communication (SOC) is sponsoring the event. Historically, the SOC hosts a yearly forum comprised of journalists to discuss a timely political issue. Last year, journalists and political commentators from around the Chicago area gave a lively critique of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s first days in office.
Ponce, who hosted last year’s forum, is gearing up for another animated debate and is confident it will illuminate paramount issues of modern-day coverage of elections. “I hope attendees leave with a higher awareness that a growing number of media outlets may be as much about persuading the public as they are about informing the public,” says Ponce. “And that a person who samples a limited number of outlets does so at her own risk!”
Echoing the same sentiments as Slania about active citizenship, Ponce stresses the importance of understanding how content is often shaped by the outlet that produces it. “It is an important realization, not just for prospective journalism practitioners, but to be an educated citizen.”
“Bridging the Great Divide: Partisan Politics, the Press and the Modern Presidential Campaign”will take place from 6-7 p.m. today in Kasbeer Hall, on the 15th Floor of the Corboy Law Center. Admission is free and open to the public, and there will be complimentary food and refreshments.
