For release: Dec. 21, 2012
Editorial contacts: Andrew
Oppmann, 615-494-7800 or Andrew.Oppmann@mtsu.edu; Kent Syler, 615-898-2708 or Kent.Syler@mtsu.edu
MURFREESBORO — While
the presidential election may have been the year’s biggest news story for many,
it was the fictitious congressional campaign in Tennessee’s fictitious 10th
District that captured the attention of students in two classes of political
science and mass communication.
For the second year in a row, the instructor of a class that
focused on political campaigning intertwined his curriculum with the lessons
taught by a mass communication instructor in a separate Media Writing class.
The result? The Political Campaigning class created a mock congressional
campaign, which divided the class into Republican and Democratic candidates and
campaign staffs. And the Media Writing class wrote stories on the campaigns,
including simulated press conferences, events and debates.
What made it more interesting was the background of the
instructors: Kent Syler, an assistant professor in political science, was the
chief of staff for former U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon. Andrew Oppmann, an adjunct
professor in journalism, worked as an editor, reporter or executive at 12
newspapers across the country, including stints as publisher of Gannett
newspapers and news websites in Murfreesboro and Clarksville.
“Andrew and I brought some real-life scenarios into play
with these students, which kept them on their toes and engaged,” Syler said.
“The result was a more intense and realistic set of exercises — a lot more
interesting than just reading about them in a book.”
The students in Syler’s class brought to life the campaigns
of two made-up candidates: “Chloe Harris,” the fictional Democrat, and “Jessica
Dowd,” the fictional Republican. Other students in the class served as campaign
managers, press secretaries and campaign workers.
The students in Oppmann’s class comprised a press corps that
covered three events in the campaign: The campaign announcements, a breaking
news story and a candidate debate at semester’s end, with three students in
Media Writing serving as the panel of questioners.
“Kent’s students kept my reporters hopping,” said Oppmann,
who also serves as an associate vice president for MTSU. “And it was great to
offer them a set of experiences that come close to what they might encounter as
reporters for a news organization.”
Dowd, 22, a senior political science major from Bell Buckle,
“thought this collaboration was awesome.”
“I really loved doing this, as I do have aspirations of
becoming involved in politics,” Dowd said. “This process allowed me to get an
idea of what being in politics was like. I was really surprised by the
questions that were asked, as they were occasionally tough, real political
questions. Being questioned about these political issues by my peers is what
made this process very challenging.”
Harris, a junior political science major with a
concentration in pre-law, echoed that sentiment, describing the collaboration
as “very interesting.”
“I think that it was useful because in the political arena
there is so much interaction with media,” she said, “and because media is a
direct gateway to the public, it is important to learn how to use it effectively
and how it can either enhance or cause damage to the public's point of view
toward a particular person or group of people.”
Harris, 20, a Nashville resident, added that she also learned
how press releases and press conferences can help put a desired point of view
out to the public to “get them on your side. It also lets them know who you are
and what your stance and views are on certain topics that will directly affect
them.”
And in a hyper-connected media landscape where smartphones
can capture audio and video in an instant, the political stakes are always
high.
“Everything you say and do is being watched by somebody and
therefore it is always important to be an honest and positive person of good
morals at all times,” Harris said. “Because once the public has a certain view
of you, it is hard to change it so you want to make sure that you are always
putting the correct image out there. First impressions are lasting
impressions!”
And the collaboration drove home the fact that the news
reporters shaping those impressions have their own stories to tell.
Said Harris: “At the end of the day, (journalists) answer to
the public and the people want the truth and so once (media) get it that's all
they are putting out, no matter if it discredits you or diminishes your character…
it's the truth, and they will seek to get it at all costs.”
Media Writing student Margaret Nash said the collaboration
taught her important lessons about reporting the truth accurately.
“One of the biggest things was learning how to objectively
write without twisting the story,” said the 23-year-old journalism major from
Lewisburg. “Also learning how to quote properly and tie those quotes into a
story was very helpful.”
Nash, who served as one of the questioners at the mock
debate between the two candidates, said covering the mock press conferences and
other campaign events were valuable experiences. By the time the debate came
around, Nash and other students had honed their questioning skills.
“We had to learn how to come up with questions to ask not
only the candidates, but the people who work with them,” she said. “At the
first press conference, it was really a struggle, but by the final debate, we
had so many different ideas about things to ask and we were really able to
expand.”
The intersections of the two courses also allowed Syler to
provide insights to the Mass Communication students on the workings of a
political campaign, while Oppmann shared his perspective on media operations to
the Political Science students.
In their past careers, Syler and Oppmann found themselves in
roles similar to those they simulated for the classes: In 2009, Oppmann was the
moderator of well-attended town hall session by Gordon, organized by Syler,
where the congressman fielded questions about the beginnings of the Affordable
Care Act championed by President Barack Obama.
“As we crafted the scenarios for our classes, we were able
to draw upon a lot of the experiences we had in our old jobs,” Syler said.
“That’s what helped make this effort more realistic for our students.”
Media Writing student Erica Ross agreed.
“It was definitely a real world experience,” said Ross, a
23-year-old sophomore from Nashville majoring in business administration. “I
think it was helpful because we had to learn how to do it ourselves. We had to
come up with the information ourselves and find the story in it.”
Ross was also impressed by the enthusiasm from the political
science students as the mock debate covered topics ranging from abortion to
health care reform to legalizing marijuana.
“They were really into their characters,” she said of
candidates. “There was a real debate. It was definitely entertaining. … It got
intense, I’m telling you.”
Oppmann said the instructors hope to continue the
cross-pollination of the two classes in future semesters.
“Our students have said it’s been valuable and we’ve enjoyed
watching them getting engaged and involved,” he said.
The students enjoyed the process as
well.
“I hope more of my classes do this. It makes learning fun,”
Ross said.
NOTE TO MEDIA: Two
(2) high resolution photos attached
CAPTIONS
MTSU Mock Debate-1.jpg
MTSU political science assistant professor Kent Syler,
right, talks with his student 'candidates' Jessica Dowd, left, and Chloe Harris
in preparation for a mock political debate. Students in a Media Writing course
taught by adjunct professor Andrew Oppmann covered the debate as part of a collaboration
between the classes. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)
MTSU Mock Debate-2.jpg
Seated at the table on the right, political science students
Jessica Dowd, left, and Chloe Harris play opposing candidates in a mock debate
that the Mass Communication students covered as part of their course. Adjunct
journalism instructor Andrew Oppmann (at lecturn) and Kent Syler, political
science assistant professor, collaborated to give their students a more
real-world experience in their disciplines. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)
###
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