I
mmersed in
presidential politics
Students describe Campaign ‘08
and living the dream of
seasoned journalists.
D
uring the 2008 Presidential Campaign,
The Marlin Fitzwater Center at
Franklin Pierce University, under the
guidance of Director Kristen Nevious, provided
students with a front row seat to some of the
most exciting and significant political events
in modern history.
By the time Election Day was over and Barack Obama was
declared President, student reporters had traveled the
State of New Hampshire and crossed the nation, landing
key interviews, filing hundreds of stories and working
alongside national media. They sharpened their skill
using new technology such as podcasting, webcasting
and blogging. They also captured, edited and uploaded
hours of video to the Fitzwater Center’s YouTube channel.
Through it all, they gained professional experience and
earned the respect of candidates, their campaign staff
and the national press. Pierce Radius spoke with three
students about their experiences.
A.J. Kierstead is a junior from China, Maine majoring
in Music Technology. He is pursuing a minor in Mass
Communication with a concentration in Media Production.
He was the News Center director for the Pierce Media
Group during his sophomore year. He currently serves as
the station manager for WFPC-LP FM and plays tenor sax
in the University’s Jazz Ensemble.
Radius: What was your involvement in the 2008
Presidential Campaign?
A.J.: I first got involved with John McCain’s rally on the
Rindge Campus in 2007. I drove out to cover one of McCain’s campaign stops just before his Straight Talk Express
bus came to campus. The day before, I had helped set up
the broadcasting operation in Pierce Hall where McCain
spoke. I covered Hillary Clinton’s rally the night before
the New Hampshire Primary. Then on Primary Day, I reported on a reception for John Edwards. I had a flip cam
(handheld video camera) and I was part of the news team
responsible for providing Primary Day video coverage to
the Fitzwater Center’s YouTube channel and to WMUR-TV.
Then I was the news crew chief who led the team of students who covered the Republican National Convention
in St. Paul, Minnesota. On Election Day, I traveled across
southwest New Hampshire with a group of students to
interview voters. I tried to focus on capturing the voice of
young people.
Radius: What were your most memorable moments of
the Campaign?
A.J.: Being able to attend a party National Convention is
something most professional journalists only dream of. I
am grateful that I had the opportunity to cover the event
as a student. Every day at the Republican National Convention, we managed to get video footage from a major
player. One student got a statement from Bob Dole. At
one point, I raised my camera over my head on a tripod to
get a shot of Rudy Giuliani on the convention floor. Other
media followed my example to get a view above the
crowd. It was also amazing to see John McCain and Sarah
Palin address the delegates in person. I blogged for
A.J. Kierstead
Erica Tomaszewski
Steven Dodrill
WMUR-TV before, during and after the convention. My
counterpart at the Democratic National Convention in
Denver, Derek Gorman ’09, wrote from the Democrat’s
perspective. We both were complimented by WMUR for
being the most consistent bloggers..
Radius: Did the experience change any of your views
of politics or the media?
A.J: One thing I came to realize is that New Media is way
of the future. Being able to upload a video to YouTube or
post a blog or share news through Twitter have all become important tools for covering an event. These media
were used more often during the 2008 Campaign and
they are gaining more credibility. I was also surprised at
the number of young people who were at the Republican
National Convention. I thought most of the young energy
was focused on Obama’s campaign, but there was a lot of
enthusiasm from young delegates for McCain too.
Radius: What is the most valuable lesson that you
learned?
A.J.: Listening to the candidates and their supporters
made me realize there are significant differences among
individual candidates and their platforms. Some people
think all politicians are basically the same. But when you
listen closely, you hear distinct viewpoints. It’s important
for voters to pay attention. I also came to realize that
government policy affects the everyday lives of young
people as well as older adults. I am now much more aware
of how policies affect me and I’m more motivated to stay
informed.
Radius: What are your plans for after graduation?
“Every day at the Republican National
Convention, we managed to get video
footage from a major player.”
- A.J. Kierstead ‘10
A.J.: I’m not completely certain. I came to Franklin Pierce
to major in music. I got involved in media production because I wanted to learn the technical side of musicianship.
Two years later, I found myself at the Republican National
Convention in the press box working alongside CNN. I
want to continue composing and playing music. But
I’d like to continue following politics and blogging too.
There’s something satisfying about being able to post
your point of view for anyone in the world to see.
Erica Tomaszewski is a freshman from Nashua, New
Hampshire who is majoring in Mass Communication with
a concentration in Broadcast Journalism. She co-hosts a
radio program for new and emerging bands on WFPC-LP,
serves as a representative on the Student Government
Association, and is an advisor to the University’s Honors
Program.
Radius: What was your involvement in the 2008
Presidential Campaign?
Erica: In high school, I participated in Franklin Pierce
University’s Presidency and the Press conference for high
school media. That got me interested in national politics
and Franklin Pierce. I was accepted to Franklin Pierce in
2008 as a Fitzwater Scholar and was immediately invited
to join one of the groups covering the national party conventions. I was also part of the team that travelled across
New Hampshire on Election Day interviewing voters and
campaigners and providing news clips for YouTube and
Dan Rather Reports.
Radius: What were your most memorable moments of
the Campaign?
Erica: It was the time I spent at the Republican National
Convention. Here I was, an incoming student who hadn’t
even attended freshman orientation, interviewing national
party delegates on the convention floor! I was there when
John McCain announced his selection of Sarah Palin for
vice president. I went up to a delegate from Hawaii to get
a reaction and the national media saw me. They thought
I had landed an interview with an important source. So
CNN and Fox News followed me and talked to the Hawaiian delegate too. I’ll also never forget being in Dixville
Notch, New Hampshire to see the first votes cast in the
nation for president. Election Day was a very long day, but
I’m proud to have participated in a six-hour, live webcast
from the Fitzwater Center on Election Night. That’s the
longest live webcast that the Fitzwater Center has ever
done.
Radius: Did the experience change any of your views
of politics or the media?
Erica: Before I was involved in the Presidential Campaign,
I always viewed the candidates through the lens of the
media. Seeing them in person showed me that they are
real people who are trying to make a difference. I hadn’t
followed politics that closely until I got caught up in the
is also a broadcaster for Franklin Pierce Athletics and
has worked at WFPC-LP as a DJ. Steven is currently
completing a newsroom internship at WMUR-TV in
Manchester. Outside his communications work, Steven
served the campus as a member of the Franklin Pierce
Fire Company and is a member of Students in Free
Enterprise.
Radius: What was your involvement in the 2008
Presidential Campaign?
“Here I was, an incoming student who
hadn’t even attended freshman
orientation, interviewing national party
delegates on the convention floor!”
- Erica Tomaszewski ‘12
moment with the candidates, their delegates and the
national press at the Convention.
Radius: What is the most valuable lesson that you
learned?
Erica: I learned that reporters have to think quickly and
take advantage of every opportunity. At first, I was shy
about approaching someone to ask for an interview. I
told the others “you go first and I’ll follow.” But I built my
confidence. One of the students saw (Senator) Joe Lieberman heading to the hotel gym in his shorts and fired off a
question. That showed me you always need to be ready.
I also learned that I would get better interviews, often
with less-guarded comments, if I said that I represented
student media. I don’t think the people I spoke to realized
that our coverage was going up on the web right alongside stories put out by mainstream media.
Radius: What are your plans for after graduation?
Erica: I’m a freshman so I still have some time to explore.
I want to stay politically active and I want to help connect
my generation with politics. I’m thinking about trying to
become a news anchor for one of the youth-oriented
networks like Fuse.tv or MTV. At the Republican National
Convention, I got to meet Sway Calloway of MTV. I told
him I want his job some day.
Steven Dodrill is a senior from Hanson, Mass. who
is majoring in Mass Communication with dual
concentrations in Broadcast Journalism and Media
Production. Steven has anchored and reported for
Franklin Pierce television and has been a News Director
and Political Director for the Pierce Media Group. Steven
Steven: (Former House Speaker) Newt Gingrich, who
was expected to run for president but never did, came
to campus in spring 2006. That got me hooked on politics. Next were the Presidential Debates in Manchester in
June 2007. I covered them for Pierce Media and provided
post-debate wrap-up for my hometown radio station
WATD-FM in Massachusetts. When the candidates began
campaigning for the New Hampshire Primary, I started
blogging, podcasting, filing stories for WATD, covering
rallies and uploading videos to YouTube. I got to travel
with John McCain on the Straight Talk Express bus on his
way to speak at Franklin Pierce. On the day of the Primary,
I led the University’s news coverage from the Fitzwater
Center’s Manchester Center. I interviewed Duncan Hunter
on a street corner and Mike Huckabee while he sampled a
“Huckaburger” at a Concord restaurant. On Election Day,
I was responsible for coordinating video footage for Dan
Rather Reports. We were chosen as one of several “swing
state” colleges to provide film for Dan Rather Reports on
HDNet. We reported from Dixville Notch and interviewed
the first person in the nation to vote. Then we traveled
across the state to get grassroots opinions on the election.
Radius: What was your most memorable moment of
the Campaign?
Steven: I had the opportunity to ride with John McCain
the Straight Talk Express bus during his trip to Franklin
Pierce from Hillsborough. The process happened very
quickly. We found out that Senator McCain was coming
to campus and I asked Dr. Kristen Nevious (Director of the
Fitzwater Center) if there was a spot for a student reporter
on the bus. Before I knew it, arrangements were made
and I was sitting next to Ron Claiborne of ABC News,
along with McCain’s staff and the national press corps.
Here I was, a college journalist, sitting and talking with
McCain and the national press on his private bus, watching football and eating snacks. Not too many people
can say they had one-on-one time with the Republican
Presidential Candidate. I was definitely amazed at how far
I had come, boarding that bus.
Radius: Did the experience change any of your views
of politics or the media?
Steven: I had never been as interested in politics as I am
now. The opportunities I’ve had to cover political events
through the Fitzwater Center really bathed me in the
excitement and impact of politics. I also came to really
appreciate the unique advantage that New Hampshire
enjoys with its grassroots style politics and First-in-theNation Primary. New Hampshire residents are privileged
to meet candidates face-to-face in small, intimate settings like town halls, diners and coffee shops. I don’t think
that happens in other places, to the extent it does here.
That is what makes Franklin Pierce unique as well. It gave
students like me the rare opportunity to cover the 2008
Campaign so closely.
Radius: What is the most valuable lesson that you
learned?
Steven: I learned to sharpen my technical skills in media
production, field reporting, and interviewing. It’s rare now
that I get star struck. I can still ask tough questions to
whomever I need to. During the election cycle, I really had
a chance to focus on New Media. Becoming more techsavvy allowed me to put more of the effort into the substance of the news coverage and to focus on the needs
of our audience. I also re-learned the value of networking.
The people that we met during the campaign, and even
months before, opened doors and gave us access to
candidates and events alongside national media. I used
to think that success came from being in the right place at
the right time and knowing the issues. That’s partly true.
But I learned success is also determined by the people
you know and the positive impression you make.
Radius: How has this experience prepared you for life
after graduation?
Steven: I’m much more confident as a reporter now that
I’ve participated in a presidential campaign from day one
“I’m much more confident as a
reporter now that I’ve participated in
a presidential campaign, from day one
through the Election.”
- Steven Dodrill ‘09
through the Election. We all had to overcome the standard hurdles of journalism, like getting invitations and
press credentials for exclusive events, landing interviews,
getting the candidates to address our questions, and
making sure the technology worked. This made me realize, you don’t get a “do-over.” You don’t have unlimited
time with an interview subject. Your first question should
be your best and toughest. I’ve faced these challenges
many times now. When I came to Franklin Pierce, I said
I wanted to help attract a whole new audience for the
Fitzwater Center, I wanted to reach the national and
international level, and our work with Dan Rather Reports
illustrates that. I accomplished my goal. I’m confident
as I move ahead to the next level, that I am prepared,
dedicated, and have the passion for this career. With the
success of our political reporting, we have assured the
Fitzwater Center, Franklin Pierce and its students a spot at
the top of the list, as credible student journalists, willing
to ask the tough questions.
Radius: What are your plans for after graduation?
Steven: My goal is to work in broadcast journalism,
though right now I am considering several options. I am
talking to connections that I have made at Franklin Pierce
and abroad. I enjoy parts of media production, but I’m
more interested in media relations, reporting, newsgathering and New Media. It’s a good career for a nosy
person. One thing is for sure, Franklin Pierce will stay at
the top of my list of favorite places. Franklin Pierce led me
to finding my voice as an undergraduate in Rindge.