When the first gubernatorial debate in Rhode Island came to the Roger Williams University campus Thursday evening, RWU turned it into a real-world learning opportunity for our students about civic engagement and what goes on behind the scenes of putting on a live debate

Rodrigues, Jill

Rubin, Julia

Siliezar, Juan

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Putting on the Debate: Behind the Scenes of a Live Broadcast and Real-Time Political Analysis

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Roger Williams UniversityDOCS@RWUFeatured News Story The Week at Roger9-28-2018Putting on the Debate: Behind the Scenes of a LiveBroadcast and Real-Time Political AnalysisJill RodriguesRoger Williams UniversityJuan SiliezarRoger Williams UniversityJulia RubinRoger Williams UniversityFollow this and additional works at: https://docs.rwu.edu/weekatroger_featured_newsThis News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the The Week at Roger at DOCS@RWU. It has been accepted for inclusion in FeaturedNews Story by an authorized administrator of DOCS@RWU. For more information, please contact mwu@rwu.edu.Recommended CitationRodrigues, Jill; Siliezar, Juan; and Rubin, Julia, "Putting on the Debate: Behind the Scenes of a Live Broadcast and Real-Time PoliticalAnalysis" (2018). Featured News Story. 205.https://docs.rwu.edu/weekatroger_featured_news/20510/3/2018 Putting on the Debate: Behind the Scenes of a Live Broadcast and Real-Time Political Analysis | Roger Williams Universityhttps://www.rwu.edu/news/news-archive/putting-debate-behind-scenes-live-broadcast-and-real-time-political-analysis 1/8 News ArchivePutting on the Debate: Behind the Scenes of a LiveBroadcast and Real-Time Political AnalysisHosting the Rhode Island gubernatorial debate o ers students experiential learningopportunities, like professional journalism training and civic engagementThe Rhode Island gubernatorial debate o eredstudents experiential learning opportunities, fromprofessional journalism training to civic engagement.September 28, 2018 By Jill Rodrigues ’05, Juan Siliezar and Julia RubinBRISTOL, R.I. – When the  rst gubernatorial debate in Rhode Island came to the Roger Williams University campusThursday evening, RWU turned it into a real-world learning opportunity for our students about civic engagement andwhat goes on behind the scenes of putting on a live debate.From pre-production to going live on-air, 10 journalism majors shadowed WPRI 12 news reporters, producers andcamera crew to gain a  rsthand look at live broadcast news production. Following the debate, six studentsparticipated in a WPRI 12 Facebook live discussion analyzing the performance of the three candidates – Democratincumbent Gina Raimondo, Republican Allan Fung, and Independent Joseph Trillo – and examining issues from theperspective of young voters.As the event played out inside RWU’s Global Heritage Hall, follow what the students experienced behind the scenesof the WPRI 12/RWU gubernatorial debate. Pre-Production5:03 p.m.Seated at a small table inside a closed-o  conference room in GHH, three senior journalism majors – Natalie Almeida,Rosalita Capoldo and Tyger Allen – follow WPRI 12 reporters Tim White and Ted Nesi’s rapid- re “mock debate” asthey prep as moderators for the live show in a few hours. With their suit jackets hanging nearby, a selection of tiesdraped atop, Nesi assumes the role of a candidate while White practices shooting o  questions, anticipating vagueanswers, and correcting misrepresented facts by exhaustively knowing the details of political issues.5:08 p.m.10/3/2018 Putting on the Debate: Behind the Scenes of a Live Broadcast and Real-Time Political Analysis | Roger Williams Universityhttps://www.rwu.edu/news/news-archive/putting-debate-behind-scenes-live-broadcast-and-real-time-political-analysis 2/8Inside the atrium, Angeli Tillett, a junior political science and journalism double major, and Britney Dixon, a juniorjournalism major, speak with WPRI Assistant Chief Engineer and Director of IT Michael Hyde about the planning thatgoes into an event like this. Tillet and Dixon listen as he tells the pair about all the logistics they planned, from soundto lighting, and how they're now putting it into action at a breakneck pace. “We’ve been planning since July,” he says.“It’s been a lot of communication.”5:09 p.m.A red-shirted WPRI 12 production crew member enters the “green room” to inform themoderators that their mic will be live at all times, and “to keep the paper-shu ing to aminimum.” White turns to the students to explain: “Nick is one of our producers. He’s theperson talking in our ears. I think his job is as stressful as ours.”5:15 p.m.Journalism major Kaylee Pugliese tries to relax before she poses a question to the three gubernatorial candidates,along with the night’s moderators, during the debate. “I’m a little nervous,” Pugliese says, laughing with JordanPhelan as they sit in the back of the GHH multimedia room.“You’re going to appreciate the moment a erwards,” encourages Phelan, a senior journalism and economics doublemajor and una liated voter who would be participating in a Facebook live discussion with Eyewitness News AnchorDanielle North and  ve other RWU students a er the debate.10/3/2018 Putting on the Debate: Behind the Scenes of a Live Broadcast and Real-Time Political Analysis | Roger Williams Universityhttps://www.rwu.edu/news/news-archive/putting-debate-behind-scenes-live-broadcast-and-real-time-political-analysis 3/85:27 p.m.White and Nesi evaluate their “balance of questions” for the candidates. Known for their debate-moderator style as“interrupters,” White says, they deliberate whether to keep pressing for an answer versus when to move on to thenext. “I think anytime all three are being weaselly [meaning, vague, on an answer], you’re sad as a moderator, but youmove on,” Nesi says.5:20 p.m.In the main control room, housed inside a broadcast van parked behind GHH, Devin Ciuci, a senior journalism major,and Benjamin Crawley, a junior political science major, observe the production team play with the audio and look ofthe feed.5:35 p.m.The moderators take their seats in front of the stage for a “dry run” of the debate, “so [the production crew] can set upcamera shots and test the mics,” White informs the students.As they watch from the side, Rosalita Capoldo notes, “I didn’t know they prepped beforehand like that. I learned thatit’s important to know your stu , to know the facts, before you ask the questions.”Tyger Allen concurs: “Yeah, the idea of doing your homework. I think they know all three candidates front and back.It’s very impressive.”5:38 p.m.As showtime approaches, Noah Ashe, a junior journalism major, Britney Dixon and Angeli Tillett play the part of thethree candidates at the podium, as the WPRI crew tune the audio. The students are seeing  rst-hand how a live eventgoes on without a hitch.10/3/2018 Putting on the Debate: Behind the Scenes of a Live Broadcast and Real-Time Political Analysis | Roger Williams Universityhttps://www.rwu.edu/news/news-archive/putting-debate-behind-scenes-live-broadcast-and-real-time-political-analysis 4/8ABOVE LEFT: Noah Ashe, a junior journalism major, is  tted for a mic by WPRI’sAssistant Chief Engineer and Director of IT Michael Hyde. ABOVE RIGHT: Angeli Tillett,a junior political science major, smiles at the podium as she helps with sound testing.BOTTOM: Moderators Tim White and Ted Nesi take their seats as students stand in theplace of candidates to sound test. “What do you want me to say?” Ashe asks. “Countto a million,” White says. “One...two…three…” Ashe gets to 60 when his mic’s audiois just right.6:20 p.m.  Back in the “green room” with some time to spare before the live show, White opens a discussion with the students.“How do you pick your questions – what’s the process?” asks Natalie Almeida.“Great question!” White says. He explains that he and Nesi choose topics from current political issues, as well asconsult with local political organizations on what’s important to them. But he emphasizes that all questions are writtenby him and Nesi,  ne-tuned with help from their editor.6:22 p.m.10/3/2018 Putting on the Debate: Behind the Scenes of a Live Broadcast and Real-Time Political Analysis | Roger Williams Universityhttps://www.rwu.edu/news/news-archive/putting-debate-behind-scenes-live-broadcast-and-real-time-political-analysis 5/8Inside the multimedia studio, the six students – David Hayes, Keith Jillette, Jordan Phelan, Kalasia Richer, ChristopherTroccolo and Thomas Wallace – taking part in WPRI’s Facebook live discussion, listen as Danielle North walks themthrough what to expect. “We’re going to pretend that I’m actually doing this right now.” She turns on her anchorvoice: “Who do you think won the debate? Jordan?”6:38 p.m.During the debate telecast, Ciuci and Crawley will remain inside the control room, watching the production crewand technical director stream a live broadcast. With just 20 minutes to go before the debate, the production teamcrew closes the van doors.Debate Goes On-Air7:03 p.m.  Inside GHH G01, the six political science students who would participate in the WPRI 12 Facebook live post-debate analysis react with a lively discussion and note-taking to White’s  rst question directed to Raimondo abouthow she handled the launch of the Uni ed Health Infrastructure (UHIP) program.7:32 p.m.10/3/2018 Putting on the Debate: Behind the Scenes of a Live Broadcast and Real-Time Political Analysis | Roger Williams Universityhttps://www.rwu.edu/news/news-archive/putting-debate-behind-scenes-live-broadcast-and-real-time-political-analysis 6/8Pitching the candidates a curveball, Kaylee Pugliese rises from the front row, microphone inhand, and asks: “As you can see, the Roger Williams University campus is right on the water’sedge, and we are about to launch a year-long series of events, titled ‘Ocean State/State of theOcean: The Challenge of Sea-Level Rise Over the Coming Century.’ So, what is the main actionyou would take as governor to address sea-level rise and climate change? Governor, we’ll startwith you.”7:54 p.m.A moment of silence hushes the multimedia room as the student-panelists listen intently to the candidates’ closingstatements and take  nal notes for their discussion. A few minutes later, they get the signal that they’re preparing togo live in  ve seconds.Behind the Scenes of the Debate 10/3/2018 Putting on the Debate: Behind the Scenes of a Live Broadcast and Real-Time Political Analysis | Roger Williams Universityhttps://www.rwu.edu/news/news-archive/putting-debate-behind-scenes-live-broadcast-and-real-time-political-analysis 7/8Facebook Live Discussion8:06 p.m.  When Danielle North asks the student panel whether authenticity matters to young voters, David Hayes, a member ofCollege Democrats at RWU, replies, “Authenticity is a big factor among young voters. You’re not the face of a party,you’re not the face of government – you have to be the most representative of you up there to connect with peopleso they’ll know how you’ll represent them.”8:11 p.m.Jordan Phelan, an una liated voter, adds that he was surprised none of the candidates talked about R.I.’s opioid crisis.For Kalasia Richer, a member of College Republicans at RWU, an un-raised issue was the trend of college graduatesmoving out-of-state once they get an education here: “They’re soaking up the knowledge in the state, but thenleaving and using their skills elsewhere. I would have liked to hear what the candidates have for a solution to that.”ABOVE LEFT: Political Science major Keith Jillette ’19 answers a question from WPRINews Anchor Danielle North. ABOVE RIGHT: Political Science major Kalasia Richer ’20answers a question. BOTTOM: WPRI’s student panel forum on Facebook live getsunderway.10/3/2018 Putting on the Debate: Behind the Scenes of a Live Broadcast and Real-Time Political Analysis | Roger Williams Universityhttps://www.rwu.edu/news/news-archive/putting-debate-behind-scenes-live-broadcast-and-real-time-political-analysis 8/88:25 p.m.  North closes the discussion by asking what can be done to get young voters to the polls. “I’m going to spread theword to watch this debate,” says Keith Jillette, a member of the College Democrats at RWU. “I’m going to spread theword that young people have the responsibility, they have the power and the right to vote, and they should use it.”ACADEMICS CIVIC SCHOLARS LIFE @ RWU FEINSTEIN SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES, ART AND EDUCATIONFEINSTEIN SCHOOL OF SOCIAL AND NATURAL SCIENCES

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Putting on the Debate: Behind the Scenes of a Live Broadcast and Real-Time Political Analysis

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