HAMPTON, Va., July 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hampton
University's Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications
has selected 50 students to attend the 2016 Republican National
Convention (RNC) and Democratic National Convention (DNC) as
working journalists and public relations specialists on behalf of
the university. Through the support of global strategic
communications and public relations firm Burson-Marsteller, Hampton students will have a unique
opportunity to participate in and report on one of the more
fascinating, divisive and potentially historic presidential
contests in years.
"This presidential campaign season is chaotic, and it is
essential that young people from all backgrounds remain interested,
inspired and dedicated to ensuring that our great American
democracy continues to flourish and serve future generations," said
Hampton University Scripps Howard
Endowed Professor Carol Angela
Davis, JD, who is coordinating the project.
Unlike other college students attending the conventions,
Hampton University students will
organize news-making events featuring prominent Republican and
Democratic elected officials and party leaders, provide a platform
for Millennials to engage politicians on policy issues and report
on all aspects of the conventions, from the nominating floor to
demonstrations outside the convention hall. Students will work as
event planners, media relations managers, writers, bloggers and
photographers, continuously creating content for Hampton University's social media channels and its
radio station, WHOV 88.1 FM.
The student reporters will cover the conventions with a focus on
issues affecting Millennials. The students also will hold a town
hall at each convention that will feature politicians and locally
based issue experts and address the traditions and contributions of
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).
At the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on July
19, Case Western Reserve University will host a town hall on
policing and criminal justice reform, climate change and energy
policy. Speakers will include conservative leaders Cassandra McDonald, founder of LAWRS Foundation;
Jeffrey Green, co-host of the talk
show "Tracey and Friends" on WSOM-AM 600 in Salem, Ohio and Blog Talk Radio; Rev. Omarosa
Manigault, vice chair, National Diversity Coalition for Trump; and
Beavercreek (Ohio) City Councilman Brian Jarvis.
At the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on July
26, the Philadelphia African American Museum will host a
town hall that will address mass incarceration and criminal justice
reform, energy policy and climate change. Speakers will include
U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA),
Democratic Virginia state Rep.
Mamie Locke and students from
Esperanza College, which has a predominantly Hispanic enrollment in
Philadelphia.
"We're glad to partner with Hampton
University to provide this opportunity for our students to
exercise their leadership at the DNC," said Rev. Luis Cortes, founder and CEO of Esperanza. "Our
young adults are passionately invested in some of the most pressing
issues of our day, including the climate change crisis and the
disproportionately high rates of incarceration of Hispanics and
other minorities in our communities. These issues affect them
and those who are elected to represent them should take their
voices seriously."
In addition to the town halls, Hampton
University students will participate in:
- Receptions at both conventions to salute HBCU graduates,
convention delegates and elected officials with political and
celebrity guests;
- A discussion with Rev. Dr. Otis Moss
Jr., former advisor to Presidents Barack Obama, Bill
Clinton and Jimmy Carter, on
the historic relationship between the African-American community
and the Republican Party as well as the significance of America's
most storied presidential conventions;
- A partnership with Thomas Nelson Community
College in which Hampton
University students will mentor and encourage Thomas Nelson students to continue their studies at
a four-year university;
- A partnership with Yunnan
University, China to examine
political and cultural differences through discussions with three
of Yunnan's visiting
professors;
- Historical and political scavenger hunts, where the students
will work to uncover important aspects of the convention host city;
and
- Media partnerships with Voice of America, Radio One, Revolt TV,
Youth Radio, Ideastream and Diva Files to gain experience in
television production, reporting, writing, strategic
communications, photography and social media engagement.
"Our nation needs young, diverse minds to help navigate our
future," said Don Baer, Worldwide
Chair and CEO, Burson-Marsteller.
"I am excited for Burson-Marsteller to work with these students as they
learn how to encourage, influence and inspire political
participation among all generations."
This program is an extension of the successful American Dream
Project in which Professor Davis took students to the 2012
political conventions. It was designed to teach students, through
experiential learning, the importance of understanding diverse
perspectives on societal issues and participating in the American
political process.
The students will create content through interviews,
newsgathering and photography to upload to the project's
proprietary social media sites. To engage with the students along
their journey, follow #pirates4politics and #ivotebecause on these
channels:
- Facebook: @hamptonusa2015
- Instagram: @hamptonusa
- Periscope: @hamptonusa
- Pinterest: @hamptonusa2015
- Snapchat: @hamptonusa
- Twitter: @HamptonUsA_
- YouTube: @hamptonusa2015
About Hampton University Howard
School of Journalism and Communications
Located on a
314-acre waterfront campus at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay in
southeastern Virginia,
Hampton University is a nearly 150-year-old historically black
institution with approximately 5,000 students. About 400 are
Journalism or Strategic Communications students at the Scripps
Howard School of Journalism and Communications. The School's roots
go back to 1967, when the Department of Mass Media Arts was first
established. In 2002, thanks to a $10
million gift from the Scripps Howard Foundation, the former
mass media arts department was expanded into a full journalism and
communications school, which then moved into a new building with
broadcast, production and technical facilities. Fully accredited by
the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass
Communications, the Scripps Howard School teaches the core
principles of journalism and communications, while producing
ethical and competitive leaders who pursue innovation and
excellence in their field.
About Burson-Marsteller
Burson-Marsteller, established in
1953, is a leading global public relations and communications firm.
It provides clients with strategic thinking and program execution
across a full range of public relations, public affairs, reputation
and crisis management, advertising and digital strategies. The
firm's seamless worldwide network consists of 73 offices and 85
affiliate offices, together operating in 110 countries across six
continents. Burson-Marsteller is a
part of Young & Rubicam Group, a subsidiary of WPP (NASDAQ:
WPPGY), the world's leading communications services network. For
more information, please visit www.burson-marsteller.com.
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/burson-marsteller-supports-hampton-university-pr-and-journalism-students-at-the-republican-and-democratic-national-conventions-300298026.html
SOURCE Burson-Marsteller