presidency and the press

A Conference for High School Media
July 25 – July 31, 2009

The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communication believes firmly that robust and open debate is essential to the health of our nation’s democracy. To ensure the future of that debate, we are dedicated to educating leaders of conscience in public communication. This conference reaches out to our nation’s high school media. In one short week, we will introduce some of the country’s most engaged youth to the dynamics of presidential election politics, the role of the media who cover it, and the relationship between the two. Every speaker, every tour, every interview is designed to give these young people the skills and information they need for full participation in the Presidential Election.

The week promises to be a full one. The days start with a morning press gaggle, at which time the students will be advised of the final schedule and drop-in/call-in guests. Action then moves into the newsroom, where work will continue on the conference’s on-line newspaper. The middle of the day is devoted to briefings, which are followed by dinner at the Press Club and “Off-the-Record” conversations on issues, personalities and careers with state and national media and political figures.

 The students are here to learn. They will be assigned to a beat, working the conference as reporters, producers, bloggers, photographers, and videographers for print and electronic media. Students will work on stories, complete interviews, and wrap up news packages under the guidance of experienced faculty and university students. The Fitzwater Center Briefings, the conference’s on-line newspaper, will showcase each student’s work. In addition, the world will be able to log onto the web and watch a Fitzcast of “The Presidency and The Press: The Week in Review”.

Thanks to a Dwinell Foundation grant, the cost of this program is only $345. Partial scholarships are available. Please contact Dr. Kristen Nevious at 603.899.1039 for more information.

Past participants came from...

2006 Conference:        

  • Abilene High School, Kansas
  • Austin Preparatory School, Massachusetts
  • Charles Wright Academy, Washington
  • Dutch Fork High School, South Carolina
  • Hawthorne High School, New Jersey
  • Home schooled, New Hampshire
  • Highland High School, New Mexico 
  • Keene High School, New Hampshire
  • Manchester High School West, New Hampshire
  • Nashua High School North, New Hampshire
  • Pinkerton Academy, New Hampshire
  • Washington High School, South Dakota
  • West Fargo High School, North Dakota

2007 Conference:        

  • Academy of Notre Dame, New Hampshire
  • Brattleboro Union High School, Vermont
  • Broadneck High School, Maryland
  • Broken Arrow Senior High School, Oklahoma
  • Caledonia-Mumford High School, New York
  • Clarkstown South High School, New York
  • Crefeld School, Pennsylvania
  • East Hampton High School, Massachusetts
  • East Lyme High School, Connecticut
  • Fredrick Douglas Academy, New York
  • Good Shepherd School, New Hampshire
  • Hawthorne High School, New Jersey
  • Home schooled, New Hampshire
  • Lancaster County Day School, Pennsylvania
  • Manchester Central High School
  • Merrimack High School, New Hampshire
  • Stevenson High School, Illinois
  • Tremper High School, Wisconsin
  • West Henderson High School, North Carolina
  • Additional High Schools and States

Testimonials...

“I had a wonderful time.  It really opened my eyes to more professions then I knew about in the communications field. I enjoyed being able to do the various jobs; my favorite was the videographer.  That role was truly eye-opening for someone who loves movies as much as I do.  Because of that day, I am now thinking of being a videographer, be in the newsroom or Hollywood.  I also liked listening to the speakers… they offered unique views into a career realm that I had little knowledge of before the conference.”—New Hampshire student  

“Thank you for inviting me to Rindge for such an amazing workshop. What a wonderful thing you, Marlin Fitzwater and your student staff are doing for high school students.  I was impressed!”—New Mexico teacher

“I just wanted to thank you for the opportunity to be a part of that whole experience.  Marlin Fitzwater was really an amazing guy and I thought it was very cool to meet someone with his experience and see things from an entirely different view.  I have also had the pleasure to stay in touch with a few of the people that I met that week.  Before I attended, I had not even considered any type of communications related jobs, but during that week, it opened my eyes to many other areas that I never even considered.”—Home schooled student