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Students tackle media coverage, campaigning

Hundreds of oral communication students filed into the Student Center Tuesday to discuss media coverage and its effect on national political campaigns as part of the twice-yearly Student Speakers Forum

But so did several proud parents who had driven many miles to see their children speak.

Greg Odom drove 350 miles from Northern Indiana to watch his son, also named Greg, tell audience members his thoughts on how media affect elections.

Odom, who graduated from SIUC in 1995, fixed his son's tie before the event, admitting later that he looked a bit nervous.

"I'm proud of my son," Odom said. "I've missed some of his activities. So when I have the time, I want to be there to support him."

Ellen Sexton drove from Huntsville, Ala., to watch her daughter, Meagan, speak on the issue.

Sexton and Odom were two of six students chosen by a committee to examine the topic during the first half of the forum. The second half-hour was dedicated to impromptu speeches and comments from the audience.

The forum, which the Department of Speech Communication has been holding since 2002, is designed to get students in introductory oral communication classes speaking publicly.

Jonny Gray, the core curriculum director for Speech Communication and the founder of the forum, said it is opened up for audience comment during the last half to allow more students an opportunity to get involved.

"It is very scary for a lot of people to stand before an audience of 300 people and talk about a topic," Gray said. "That is always the magical moment for me, to see someone do that."

Several students spoke impromptu after the speakers finished, some expanded on the speaker's ideas, while another student questioned a speaker about her comments.

Brad Dunlap, a junior studying political science and history from McHenry, pounded out his speech as the other students spoke. He brought his laptop computer to the podium to help him remember his thoughts before the crowd of more than 400.

The six speakers who began the event were chosen from 28 who tried out for the opportunity to gain speaking experience - and a little extra credit.

But Odom, the president of the Pre-Law Association, said he would have jumped at the chance to speak on the issue even without his advanced public speaking teacher's incentive of extra points.

"I am interested in the political process and want to be a lawyer, so I just wanted to get an idea of where I stand as far as speaking and addressing the public," Odom said. "I would have done it without the extra credit. It was the topic that called me to it."

In her speech, Sexton, a sophomore studying journalism from Delavan, Wisc., pointed out that there are many more candidates running for president than the media lead the public to believe.

"The media have no interest in telling us this because there is no money in doing so," Sexton said.

Speakers pointed out both the negative and positive effects the media have on political campaigns. Some said the media inform people who otherwise wouldn't have been, while others criticized the media for generalizing candidates and allowing political campaigns to sell candidates like products. One speaker even said if she had it her way, media would not even report on political campaigns.

While politics and political affiliation often played into the speeches, the Gray's idea for the forum was developed so students could practice their public speaking skills before a large audience.

While Odom said he was using his five minutes as a means to further his speaking skills, he also said he wanted audience members to leave more aware about political campaigns and the media's affect on them.

"I think with it being an election year, it is increasingly important, and unfortunately, I don't think college student think about the media and its impact." Odom said. "I hope the audience came away with a new appreciation for the relationship between the media and politics."

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