DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL FORUM AIRS JUNE 28 ON PBS STATIONS NATIONWIDE
Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Christopher Dodd, John Edwards, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, Barack Obama and Bill Richardson will participate in the “All-American Presidential Forums on PBS,” moderated by Tavis Smiley, on June 28, 2007, from 9:00-10:30 p.m. ET at Howard University in Washington, DC.
Questions to the candidates will be posed by Smiley and journalists Michel Martin of National Public Radio, nationally syndicated columnist Ruben Navarrette Jr. and USA Today and Gannett News Service columnist DeWayne Wickham.
The event will be televised live on PBS. “All-American Presidential Forums” on PBS, moderated by Tavis Smiley, marks the first time that a panel exclusively comprised of journalists of color will be represented in primetime. The candidates will be asked about issues ranging from healthcare and housing to Katrina relief, the economy and the environment, among others outlined in the #1 The New York Times best-seller, Covenant With Black America. A second forum for Republican presidential candidates will be held on September 27, 2007, on the campus of Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland.
“We are encouraged by the enthusiasm of all parties for this historic event,” said Smiley. “From the title to the format, the ‘All-American Presidential Forums’ was created to provide fresh perspectives and an unprecedented level of inclusion for all Americans in general, and people of color in particular, in these critical discussions about our country’s future.”
“The Forums will give voice to vital questions the American public wants to have answered in this crucial election process,” said John Boland, PBS chief content officer. “Kicking off an ambitious line-up of content on multiple platforms for PBS Election 2008, we are proud to help facilitate this important dialogue, which truly represents the mission of public broadcasting.”
Immediate public feedback on the performance of the candidates will be conducted by noted pollster Frank Luntz, who will also appear on “Tavis Smiley” on PBS the following evening to discuss his findings. The PBS Democratic Forum will be simultaneously webcast on PBS.org, and video of both events will be archived for download and viewing on the Web site.
The Web site (pbs.org/tavissmiley) will include additional coverage of the presidential candidates and their positions on key issues of the campaign, including past interviews, backgrounders, viewer polls and a forum blog and election resources. Visitors will be able to submit their own questions for the candidates, read commentary and share their own opinions.
Labels: Barack Obama, Democrats, DeWayne Wickham, Hillary Clinton, Howard University, Michel Martin, PBS, Presidential Forum, Presidential Race, Reuben Navarette, Tavis Smiley
