In the days leading up to the vice presidential debate at Longwood University, both local and national media outlets will provide coverage for the event on Tuesday, Oct. 4.
There will be stages set up at various locations on campus for the three major television outlets covering the debate - CNN, Fox News and MSNBC. The stages will be located outside of the restricted security perimeter, running coverage of the event all day, according to Matt McWilliams, Longwood's director of communications and media relations.
CNN will have a huge stage set up on Wheeler Mall, beginning their coverage Tuesday morning and continuing into the afternoon, according to McWilliams.
“They even call it their 'game day set.' That is a kind of reference to the ESPN game day, football thing that they’ve made famous,” said McWilliams.
According to McWilliams, CNN wants people in the background holding signs, full of energy. They want to broadcast on a college campus and have it look and feel that way. CNN will also have a campaign bus for students to interact with; students can use touch screens within the bus. They will also bring a large video wall to allow people to watch the debate live, according to McWilliams.
When it gets dark, polls and different analytics pertaining to the election will be projected on to the backside of Jarman Hall.
“It is going to be a really cool kind of interactive, but really big and huge production,” McWilliams stated.
MSNBC will be located on Beale Plaza near the fountain behind Ruffner and Grainger Halls.
“I was really happy to be able to put them in a spot where they could show the iconic building on Longwood’s campus,” said McWilliams.
MSNBC will be beginning their programing at 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning, and they are looking for an atmosphere with lots of energy, especially groups of students who will answer questions. They are seeking groups like clubs, sports teams and organizations on campus. They want to send a camera and a reporter into the crowd and show off Longwood, according to McWilliams.
Fox News’ coverage will start in the afternoon on Monday, Oct. 3 on the steps between the Lankford Student Union and Dorrill Dining Hall. They will film coverage on Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 6 a.m. for "Fox & Friends," looking for similar themes in a crowd as MSNBC - several student groups giving off lots of energy and having fun, according to McWilliams.
