WKSU SENDS REPORTERS TO NATIONAL POLITICAL CONVENTIONS

Tuesday August 5, 2008

The upcoming U.S. Presidential election has been called the most important in decades. The choice Americans make will affect national and international policy as the country faces uncertain stresses, notably in the financial markets and the energy supply. The campaign trail that leads to November 2008 is being closely followed both at home and abroad.

WKSU will be on the scene as Barack Obama and John McCain accept their parties’ nominations for President. Award-winning news staff will be at both national conventions covering the issues from a Northeast Ohio perspective. Reporter/Producer Kevin Niedermier reports from the Democratic National Convention in Denver, CO from Aug. 25 through 28. News from the Republican National Convention will be sent back daily from St. Paul, MN by News Director M.L. Schultze from Sept. 1 through 4.

Reporters will produce stories on laptop computers and send them electronically for WKSU's broadcasts of NPR’s daily news programs, "Morning Edition" and "All Things Considered." They will also post observations, audio and images online at WKSU.org. WKSU won awards in 2001 and 2005 for its previous national convention coverage. This is Niedermier's third trip following the Ohio delegation as they nominate a presidential candidate.

WKSU airs NPR's "Morning Edition" with local host Jeff St. Clair and Tom Parkinson weekdays from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and "All Things Considered" with Vivian Goodman Mondays through Fridays from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. WKSU's coverage of the national political conventions is made possible through support from the Area Agency on Aging and AARP.

WKSU broadcasts NPR & Classical Music at 89.7 FM, and is a service of Kent State University. WKSU programming is also heard on WKRW 89.3 FM in Wooster, WKRJ 91.5 FM in Dover/New Philadelphia, WKSV 89.1 FM in Thompson, WNRK 90.7 in Norwalk, W298BA 107.5 FM in Boardman, and W239AZ 95.7 FM in Ashland. The WKSU web site is www.wksu.org.

PR08.10           ###      8/5/08

(Back to press releases )