Are you going to the Democratic convention in Denver or the Republican convention in St. Paul?
This year’s nominating conventions are poised to be some of the most exciting and newsworthy in decades. And because of new technology and online distribution, entire elections can now hinge on moments captured not by traditional journalists, but by ordinary citizens and those closest to the action.
Reuters is looking for participants in a new mobile journalism project that will capture this year’s conventions from the ground up. We will be equipping attendees with video cameras, and helping them to shoot footage from their own perspective and upload it to Reuters.com and other sites.
We hope to capture an unseen side of the conventions, from those most involved — delegates, donors, convention volunteers and others. Unfortunately we can’t provide passes into the conventions. But if you already have plans to attend, or know someone who does, email reutersmojo@gmail.com for more details.
Even if you’re not going to Denver or St. Paul, what kind of coverage would you like to see? What questions would you like on-the-scene reporters to ask? Leave your suggestions in the comments section.
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For the past 2 1/2 weeks, I’ve been working on the Electrics Crew, then the Video Production crew for the DNCC in Denver. I’ll be working with the Video crew for the remainder of the convention. Nobody has been brainwashed. No one is being coerced. There are massive Audio, Video, and Conferencing packages being installed to facilitate open debate on the convention floor, and to tabulate votes in real time. All of this is being handled by some of the most professional and capable technicians, engineers, riggers, carpenters, and electricians in the production industry. Security is extremely tight, and everyone involved has been through multiple background checks.
Whatever happens, this will be an event to remember, and I’m glad I get to be a small part of the production.
To those who think it’s all “staged” or somehow “faked” - you’re delusional. If you can’t lay aside the emotional baggage and see beyond the partisan hype long enough to put your country above your imagined “team spirit”, you’re not worthy of the vote which is your birthright. If you don’t believe it’s worth the effort to get involved, you have no one but yourself to blame for the outcome. Grow up, stand up, and be a part of the only activity that sets us apart from a dictatorship - VOTE.
- Posted by MarkI have a question that I would like to have asked of both candidates.
What is being done about the voting booth fraud. We need a real paper trail to be counted. If this problem is not fixed, then we won’t really know who REALLY won. Which I believe happened before in the last election or two.
thanks
Martha Woodbury
- Posted by Martha WoodburyHawaii
All the partisan blather below ought to convince Reuters that “ordinary citizens and those closest to the action” are incapable of being anything close to objective. It’s a sweet, idealistic (and money-saving) idea — equipping citizen journalists with cameras. But is anyone left standing who can see beyond their own self-interests?
Read the junk that follows and get back to me…
- Posted by MikeI would have rather voted for Hillary then the empty suit Barrack Hussein Obama! He wants you to inflate yours tires so that your car will float along life’s highway, while ignoring real solutions. Drilling for more crude oil will increase supply while lowering the price at the pumps! Obama’s ego is over inflated! So vote McCain and not for Hussein….PERIOD.
- Posted by WhittyWhy vote for an Obamanation? Media will not look into Obama’s past associations or voting record. Why?
- Posted by R.U.AdickObama is not a patriot. He will not salute the flag, he wouldn’t wear “that pin”, he looked down and there was a change in his voice (sign of deception)while saying that he found Jesus while speaking about the reverend W and the list can go on and on. He is just another politician. He did what he had to and associated with who he had to and changed his colors as the deemed necessary to get to where he is at today. There is nothing special about him. A great number of people voting for Obama are doing it for all the wrong reasons like Guilt, race, party affiliation, gay and liberal movements, and the list can go on. Never mind the inexperience, shady affiliations, thrash talking USA. Never mind his flip floppy self. Pay attention, he is chaining in the topics that have hurt him. Topics that at one time he so eloquently illustrated and smoke screened people with. He has people around him constantly advising him on what to say and change on. This is probably one of the reasons he will not go against McCain in town hall debates. People choose not to listen to the facts that give shade to Obama and totally dismiss them. Any fact that makes Obama looks bad is an attack, an assault or a racist remark. America! wake the hell up. In the end McCain will be the next President and we will be OK. If you challenge my first statement you are probably French. Semper Fi!!
- Posted by EdgarI would like to see coverage of the Rally for the Republic. The people that will be attending this event and those who are hosting/speaking are TRULY interested in making this country better, NOT in the glam and glitz of conventions. Campaign for Liberty and the Rally for the Republic should most definitely be an event of interest for Reuters.
- Posted by LorriWhy are you people so frenzied? The conventions really mean nothing. The protests mean nothing. How old are you? Never been through this before? You already know who’s in on both sides so just chill out, wait for November, and then pick someone. Or if you’re like my household - both stay home because you’re just cancelling each other’s vote out.
one way or another, come January we’ll have a new president. Until then, why waste your time?
- Posted by gregIt is ironic that we still are throwing allegations against Obama when we all have enough evidence to prove our points. Any man that has a wife who indicates that she is proud to be an American (for the first time in her adult life), has been affiliated with a Pastor who has preached anti-American sermons (if you can call them that), had refused to distance himself from the Good Old Preacher until it was politically necessary, and has his subs telling the rest of the world that we are all racist and xenophobic when we bring this to the public’s attention is NOT in my estimation worthy of the highest office of the land. I need to make clear that I am a Democrat, refuse to vote for McCain, and strongly believe that the media acted as a contagion in getting this man to be the nominee. He did absolutley nothing wrong in their eyes and could only find fault with Senator Clinton (Oh, did I mention I am a male?). It is of my opinion, whether anyone cares to hear it or not, that Senator Clinton should still attempt to get a roll call at the Convention to show this country just how many millions of people voted for her, and to prove to the Country that contrary to the media’s take, Obama did not pull a slam dunk. The media needs to get honest about the fact that out of the last 15 Primary Races Senator Obama won four; Senator Clinton won the rest. They ONLY way I will vote for this ticket is if Hillary is provided the VP slot.
- Posted by Dr. Bear“An ACTOR from Chicago who has been CHOSEN to play the roll of PRESIDENT — not only of the U.S. — but of THE WORLD !!!” Really, Lousiana Broker? Substitute California for Chicago, and how would the differ from REAGAN?
- Posted by AnthonyNO I’M NOT GOING — OBAMA TICKETS COME WITH A CATCH!
Some of those hoping to wrangle a seat for Barack Obama’s Convention speech were told this week they have to put in six hours of volunteer work for his campaign BY FRIDAY to have a shot at a ticket.
One Denver resident said, “It’s not fair. It’s elitist. And they need to practice what they’re preaching.”
Doing the volunteer work only makes someone ‘eligible’ for a ticket and doesn’t ‘guarantee’ one — according to the phone message from the campaign.
DID OBAMA CHARGE THE GERMANS TO HEAR HIM A FEW WEEKS AGO? NO! HE IS ONLY CHARGING “AMERICANS” WHO WANT TO ATTEND.
WHAT ELSE IS NEW? OBAMA HAS BASED HIS ENTIRE CAMPAIGN ON LIES! THE DNC “SELECTED” OBAMA — HE WAS NOT “ELECTED” BY THE PEOPLE. HILLARY SHOULD BE THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE.
NOW HE WANTS “FREE LABOR” TO WORK FOR HIS CAMPAIGN AND — MAYBE — JUST MAYBE — THEY CAN GET A TICKET AND ATTEND THE CONVENTION!
I’M VOTING FOR JOHN McCAIN IN NOVEMBER.
STOP THE DRAMA-NO OBAMA — GET A BRAIN-VOTE McCAIN!
- Posted by WE NEED TO REPLACE DEMS IN CONGRESS!I’ll be there… outside the conventions, where the real action is going to be and the living politics of the nation will be expressed. Particularly, I’ll be in the streets of St. Paul. If Reuters is brave enough to cover that, I’d be happy to help out.
- Posted by KathrynThe mobile project sounds interesting but I will not be attending the convention. My suggestion would be to get someone who would cover a reality inside look at the conventions, like what people talk about and is it all politics and cheerleading and who they meet. Also, cover what they do at the convention other then get ready to nominate and listen to speeches. Have them to interview people in different age brackets, with questions that make them think outside the box such as,.. “if you had all the money in the world to fix a single issue would it be the gas crises, cancer, poverty, hunger or terrorism?” Maybe interesting to see the one that gets the most answers.
- Posted by R RodgersDo you want coverage of the Rally for the Republic at the Target Center as well? This is where the real action will happen - freedom IS popular! http://www.rallyfortherepublic.com
Neither party’s convention will be anything more than a scripted show. There will be no floor fights over the platform. There will be no opportunity given for delegates to raise issues or make nominations from the floor. No open debate between the delegates will be allowed under any circumstances.
I could write an article now about the GOP convention outcome based on the party leadership’s behavior at most of the state conventions. I don’t have to be there to tell you that they’ll listen to a bunch of speakers bashing Obama and the Democrats while lying about their commitment to conservative principles; they’ll all hold their nose as the RINO John McCain is nominated; and they’ll baaaaa like sheep for whoever he picks as VP. That is of course, if the delegates don’t wake up to their total disenfranchisement, call a RUMP, and move it on over to the Target Center!
- Posted by Daniellei am homeless and multi disabled
just got a section8 voucher returned the paper not help/supports or hope of the actual accessible housing.
ill be lucky to get back home to renew the battle for the med psyche housing shelter VA help there .
I hope there is Someone able to represent the medical social agency non profit disaster thats too often increasing homelessness and health problems for disabled.
- Posted by dc matthewsI think this project is fabulous and I would have loved to participate; however, I signed up in fall to volunteer at the Democratic National Convention — then never heard anything about whether I’d been chosen.
Then I learned any prospective volunteers would be expected to attend a training session in Denver in July, which would have necessitated two trips out there from the East Coast. Nice work if you can afford it.
However, I like this idea to harness grassroots talents. It will broaden the kind of coverage offered. I’ll be watching from home, applauding my candidate, Clinton.
- Posted by BetsyWake up sleepers McCain-Obama Obama-McCain …
It’s all the same. There is only ONE TRAIN!
Sit on the Right side - Sit on the Left side.
Pretend like it makes any difference.
Who’s the new engineer sitting up front this time?
Pretend like it matters.
Get the picture => the tracks have already been laid down, and this train is heading in that direction.
What it takes to get out in fron to the train and lay new track is NOT HAPPENING.
So hope for change, and watch how fast it gets rearranged. The machinery of Empire Building goes forward!
- Posted by RRLedfordObama’s energy plan is simple: let’s run our cars and businesses on rainbows and sunshine. Paris Hilton has a more coherent energy policy than that empty suit! I have a dream too.. it’s that Obama’s incompetence and ignorance is exposed before we’re stuck with him as President. Nancy Pelosi and Obama ought to hug each other. Maybe that will increase the oil supply.
- Posted by SuperAcidJaxWho cares about the effect of the convention on the homeless? Gas is $4+ per gallon because the Democrats are afraid to drill for oil, yet we are concerned about the homeless? The homeless don’t drive — they’ll be fine. It isn’t like they are starving to death. They’ll get along as they always have.. by begging from people that actually work for a living.
- Posted by Brian in KCOne commenter suggested that he was concerned that the police would be joined by Blackwater to fight the Minnesota protesters.. That is the most insane delusion I’ve heard in a long time. The whole world is not some conspiracy hatched by Bush. Get over it. The sixties are over. Obama wants to raise taxes and is ignorant about basic economics (i.e. windfall taxes.) For those reasons, I’m voting McCain. I can’t afford to vote for Barak Hussein Obama. The only ones that can afford to vote for Obama are the people that stand to gain a handout from the Socialist Messiah. I just donated $10 on http://www.johnmccain.com. It isn’t much, but it’s a start. $10 to McCain will save the country billions in taxes.
- Posted by Brian