Education Writers Association to Hold the EWA Election ‘08 Interview Series with 2008 Presidential Candidates
The Institute for a Competitive Workforce at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to Host Initial Events
Washington, June 11, 2007 The Education Writers Association (EWA), the non-profit organization that represents more than 900 education reporters, editors and education communicators around the country, announced today that it will host a series of one-on-one interviews on education issues with the 2008 presidential candidates.
The EWA Election ‘08 Interview Series, the first series of which will be hosted by the Institute for a Competitive Workforce at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, will feature a panel of EWA journalist members asking questions of the candidates. The Chamber has granted EWA complete editorial control. The journalists on each panel will include national and local education reporters, who cover both the pre-K-12 and higher education beats.
“Through the early round of debates and candidates appearances, education issues were largely being ignored by most of the candidates,” said Richard Whitmire, president of EWA’s board and editorial writer on education issues for USA TODAY. “That lack of focus on education certainly is not consistent with the level of interest from the public that our members hear about and report on every day.”
The interviews will be scheduled periodically between now and the beginning of the primary season in January. The events will be open to all EWA members and credentialed reporters, with webcast and teleconference available for non-Washington-based EWA members and reporters. Full digital video and written transcripts of each session will also be available same-day via the EWA website (www.ewa.org).
“We are delighted to work with EWA to host these important opportunities to learn more about the candidates’ views on the most vital education issues of the day,” said Arthur Rothkopf, Senior Vice-President and Counselor to the President of the U.S. Chamber.
Carnegie Corporation of New York,Lumina Foundation for Educationand KnowledgeWorks Foundation also are providing financial support for The EWA Election ‘08 Interview Series.
The Education Writers Association is a nonprofit, non-partisan media organization that helps reporters and editors improve reporting on education to the public. It does not take positions on education issues and does not endorse candidates. The Institute for a Competitive Workforce (ICW)is a 501(c)3 affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and works to ensure that businesses have access—today and tomorrow—to an educated and skilled workforce.
For information on logistics, please call or email Rodney Ferguson at rferguson@lipmanhearne.com or call at (202) 457-8100.
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