LAKEWOOD OBSERVER DEBATE COVERAGE - News from the inside.

stephen davis · Post by **stephen davis** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 10:33 pm

Jim O'Bryan,

I have borrowed your photo to help open this fresh space for Lakewood Observer coverage of the Obama and Clinton Debate.

I know the Observers, on the inside, at the Wolstein Center, will have great photos and perspectives to share with us.

Me, on the outside.

Let the games begin.

Steve

P.S. It's too bad you couldn't get a shot of the LO satellite truck, but I know it's in the shop until tomorrow.

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Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 10:47 pm

Brian J. Johnston, Director, Marketing and Public Affairs at Cleveland State University speaks with Chanel 5 News.

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stephen davis · Post by **stephen davis** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 11:16 pm

After his TV interview, I asked Brian Johnston how CSU managed to make this debate happen.

He said that it was totally initiated by NBC, and that it was their relationship with WKYC that made them choose Cleveland.

NBC contacted CSU with the proposal to have it at the Wolstein Center. CSU had only two days to decide, and only two weeks to plan.

CSU had to raise $300,000 to cover their expenses. This money was not allowed to come from the CSU endowment, or from tuition money. Their development people were able to raise $340,000 immediately, mostly from National City Bank, Key Bank, The Plain Dealer, and Parker Hanafin donations.

Brian Johnston telling us CSU is ready.

For the next four or five days into their planning, they were still not sure that Clinton would participate. Apparently, she was a bit evasive, and even hinted at wanting to debate in Youngstown.

Johnston said that NBC has a team that is very skilled at making these events happen, although earlier in the day we noticed Brian and other CSU staff doing a lot of last minute preparations.

Thanks to the CSU staff and their donors, Cleveland will be the focus of the nation for this important event.

Steve

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Ivor Karabatkovic · Post by **Ivor Karabatkovic** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 11:28 pm

Indeed it is really special to host this event right here in Cleveland, Ohio!

I'm sure the Observer's coverage will be great.

Maybe this time we should pay attention to what is said..

dl meckes · Post by **dl meckes** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 11:30 pm

We are very popular. Both the R's and the D's think we're interested in them.

The D's have been very busy! We have been invited to two rallies, the "Sharks" and the "Jets" and both are convening either at or across the street from the Rascal House prior to the debate.

I foresee plenty of "fight" dancing in the streets.

Hope nothing happens to the LO Sat truck.

Mike Deneen · Post by **Mike Deneen** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 5:48 am

$300,000 for what?

They are using volunteers instead of the normal paid staff for this event.

Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 6:25 am

Mike Deneen wrote:$300,000 for what?

They are using volunteers instead of the normal paid staff for this event.

Mike

I am remembering him mentioning signage, stage sets, printing, security. I also thinking I heard Brian mention that Case Western Reserver spent over $4million for the debates they staged.

FWIW

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Mike Deneen · Post by **Mike Deneen** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 6:29 am

So MSNBC pays nothing?
All the staging, bells and whistles are there for TV.

Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 6:37 am

Mike Deneen wrote:So MSNBC pays nothing?
All the staging, bells and whistles are there for TV.

Mike

I do remember Mr. Johnston mentioning how helpful NBC had been, and that they did cover most of the expenses. Still they needed the $340,000 to put it on. I will be happy to track down Brian today and ask for more information.

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Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 6:40 am

MSNBC just mentioned it might be one of the most important debates there has ever been.

Hillary threw out, "Let's meet in Ohio and talk about the real issues."

Media has mentioned that Hillary has to come out swinging.

FWIW

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Stan Austin · Post by **Stan Austin** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 9:38 am

Hey!!!! While all the TV techs are inside handling the debate, let's steal the NBC sat truck, slap an LO logo on it and drive it across the border (Highland Avenue) and park it in a protected enclave. Voila! We got our own sat truck

Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 10:41 am

Stan Austin wrote: Hey!!!! While all the TV techs are inside handling the debate, let's steal the NBC sat truck, slap an LO logo on it and drive it across the border (Highland Avenue) and park it in a protected enclave. Voila! We got our own sat truck

errrrrrrrrr No

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Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 1:25 am

Lakewood Observer reporter Nadhal Eadeh interviews Jesse Jackson in the "Spin Room."

MUCH MORE COMING -

I can't wait to see Ivor's stuff!

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Ivor Karabatkovic · Post by **Ivor Karabatkovic** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 2:03 am

Jim,

My stuff isn't as good as I would like it to be...but granted I didn't have much of an opportunity.

Once the debate started all the press had to take pictures of was...the press.

I was lucky to be front and center of the stage for the photo spray. But the photographers next to me knocked over a speaker and it was leaning onto me so I was standing on one leg for one hour and holding the speaker up with the other leg.

"let the speaker fall!" one guy said.. but I could see the hundreds of dollars in repairs if I let that happen.

Not making any excuses, but damn my right leg is sore.

Ivor Karabatkovic · Post by **Ivor Karabatkovic** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 3:24 am

Photos are up on my Flickr account.

See the Slideshow

they'll be up on the Observer Blogs soon.

the Color Guard presents the colors during the pledge of allegiance and National Anthem.

the candidates: