Julian Pritcher Post-Election Panel COMM 260W November 13, 2012 Lingering questions about this years presidential

election were answered at Penn States Post-Election Panel. The discussion was held in the HUB-Robeson Center auditorium on November 13. Moderated by Penn States own Russ Eshleman, there was a dialogue on the trending topics of the recent election. From cable news broadcasts, to Twitter, each panelist was asked to share their professional view on the subject matter in order to educate young journalists on the new era of politics in society. Flanking Mr. Eshleman on each side, the four distinguished members of the panel took their seats on stage amid anxious chattering and cameras flashing. Starting on the far left Eshleman, introduced Nikole Killion. Killion is currently the Washington bureau reporter for Heart TV. She also covered the death of Ted Kennedy, Pope Benedicts first visit to U.S., as well as the World Trade Center collapse on 9/11. Next to Nikole, on the middle, left side sat John Baer, a political columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News. To the right of Eshleman sat Jim Brown, Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Bob Casey, and Lisa Lerer a Bloomberg news reporter who traveled with the Romney campaign this past year. Eshleman got the discussion started by asking the panel some questions of his own, inquiring how the media covered the presidential election this year. So much of the campaign was focused on the last four years, Baer said. Because the media is a 24/7 deal, you have a

constant flow and a constant switching of ideas. If youre an average voter we (the media) leave you high and dry, he concluded. Summing up the entire election, Baer reflected many voters feelings on trying to decide who to vote for through media coverage. With cable news channels filling our televisions with competitive banter, the election panel was asked about the role these political news outlets play in a big election year such as this one. The panelists were in accord about the lack of integrity the journalists on these channels express. We now have networks that are making money off of opinion, Killion stated. Baer, who has been on Hardball (with Chris Matthews) twice before, exclaimed, this subject really pisses me off. He went on, I think it is a tremendous disservice to Democracy, they either make you angry or make you agree with them. When the discussion between panelists came to a close, the audience was encouraged to ask questions. One crowd member followed up Eshlemans last topic with an appropriate question on cable news and its effect on third party candidates such as Ron Paul. Killion replied, He has mastered his own brand, I feel like he could start his own network. She continued her praise of the popular third party candidate by describing how passionate his supporters are. It seemed as though the rest of the panel admired Paul for his political stance as Baer explained, I personally love Ron Paul because no matter what you think of his chances, he does get you to think and ask the questions you should be asking. Brown brought the third party praise back down to earth however, saying the media is not interested in what moderates have to say because its not bombastic. The only thing in the middle of the road is a dead animal, concluded Brown.

The discussion concluded with a look to future elections. Each panel member expressed their opinion on candidates and campaigns in upcoming political races. From, more women, as Killion explained, to micro-targeting that approaches mind control, explained Baer, the future of politics in the U.S. seems either influential or invasive, depending on whom you ask.