Campus Basks in Worldwide Media Spotlight
University Communications
University Reporter
By
Leigh DuPuy
UMass Boston became famous for its role in Campaign 2000 as the national and international media turned their attention to the site where Vice President Al Gore and Governor George W. Bush would meet for the first time.
With the approach of October 3, the University was mentioned in every
national network on a weekly basis. Profiles of the University appeared
in the venerable New York Times and Washington Post, and local stations
such as WBZ, WHDH, and WFXT came to campus to tell the story of UMass
Boston's role as cohost. Following the debate, every major newspaper across
the country mentioned UMass Boston's name its lead story, some noting
the University's flawless execution.
Preparing the campus for an influx of the media was just as important as setting the stage for the candidates. UMass Boston worked steadily with the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) to anticipate the media and their needs. This meant renovating the ice hockey rink into a media center, a transformation including red carpeting and an installation of more than 2,000 additional phone lines and 100,000 watts of additional energy. UMass Boston coordinated the construction of debate hall platforms for the major networks to shoot the debate and oversaw the arrangement of pool feeds, media vans, and photographer stations. Finally, UMass Boston ordered memorabilia and stuffed "swag" bags to give to members of the media. The swag included debate t-shirts, baseball caps, bumper stickers, and items from the Kennedy Library.
On October 2 and 3 more than 1,600 local, national, and international
members of the media from newspapers, radio, broadcast television, and
Internet sites arrived on campus to cover the event. These included not
only the top journalists, but also photographers, technicians, and media
runners.
Riding the shuttle buses from Boston College High School's parking lot,
members of the media were brought to a credentialing tent to check in.
Prior to the debate, the press were required to apply for credentials
through the U.S. Senate Press Gallery. No journalist was allowed to stay
without the approval of Press Gallery officials.
With press passes in hand, journalists toured the debate hall, interviewed Chancellor Penney and UMass President William Bulger, and awaited the start of the debate in the media hall or hospitality tent. Well-known journalists were spotted throughout the days, including Tom Brokaw and Tim Russert, who covered the debate for NBC, and Charlie Gibson of Good Morning America, who did his Wednesday show from atop the Quinn Administration Building. George Stephanopoulos, Mike Barnicle, and Janet Wu were also among the media figures covering the story.
While some journalists worked from inside the debate hall, most filed their stories from the media center or watched from the hospitality tent.
On the night of the debate, coverage extended from Boston to Washington, from England to Japan as the world watched the debate become a part of UMass Boston's accomplished history.