CARLSBAD: High school students prepare to cover election

Broadcast journalism class gets political

By STACY BRANDT - Staff Writer | Monday, November 3, 2008 7:08 PM PST ∞

CARLSBAD ---- Most of them aren't old enough to vote, but a group of Carlsbad High School students are getting involved in Tuesday's election another way ---- by covering it as journalists.

Nearly 30 students in the school's broadcast journalism class will spend Tuesday at Golden Hall in San Diego, interviewing politicians and filming a news broadcast that will air Wednesday.

The 15-minute program will be broadcast to the roughly 3,000 students at the school between 9:15 and 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, as well as online during the same time at CHSTV.com.

"It's really exciting," said senior Haley Quartarone, who will be working as a producer on election night. "At the same time, it's a lot of work."

The students and their teacher, Doug Green, have been planning the election-night coverage for the last two months.

As an extracurricular extension of his broadcast class, Green has had students cover elections before, but never at this level, he said.

"We decided to really embrace the election," he said. "They're really into it."

Green said he has been impressed with how politically savvy many of the students have become.

Leading up to the election, students in the broadcast program have produced political reports and interviewed candidates. On Monday, the show featured Nick Leibham, the Democratic candidate for the 50th Congressional District. The incumbent, Rep. Brian Bilbray, was invited to be on the show, but didn't respond, Green said.

Over the last couple of weeks, the students have also interviewed all six people running for the Carlsbad City Council.

"I really am in awe of this entire setup," Leibham said about the students' broadcast. "They are true professionals, and I am blown away."

The students have also produced a political debate segment called "Animal House," which has become popular with their peers. In those broadcasts, a liberal and a conservative student debate hot issues.

Whether or not they can vote yet, the students said getting involved and learning about candidates and issues has made them more interested in politics.

"It makes me realize that these are real people," said Rory Gallagher, who will report for the broadcast. "These are real issues."

All of the work over the last couple of months will culminate in the coverage of election night, said Krysta Mortland, who will edit the program.

"We don't just get to watch it this time; we get to do it," she said.

Contact staff writer Stacy Brandt at (760) 901-4009 or sbrandt@nctimes.com.