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Do late-night satire and political cartoons inform public political debate even more than newspapers and television news? Nightline's Ted Koppel, comedy writer and famed talk-show host Dick Cavett, and President Clinton's humor writer Mark Katz will join journalists and other humorists in a timely forum titled Money, Humor and Spin in Election 2000 at Columbia's School of Journalism, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2000, beginning at 9 a.m.
The first panel, Following the Money: Covering Campaign Finance (9 a.m.-10:30 a.m., moderated by Gwen Ifill), will look at whether public frustration over campaign finance abuse has led to dissatisfaction among voters, how the media has influenced the debate over campaign finance, and whether the press should be offering recommendations for resolving these issues.
The second panel, Humor and Satire: How They Spin the News, (11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., moderated by Ted Koppel) will examine the relationship between humor and the public perception of politics. Among the questions discussed will be: How much do late night talk shows, political cartoons and satirical songs shape political debate? Has humor coarsened political debate or is it essential for a healthy democracy?
Finally, three of this year's duPont-Columbia Award-winning television programs will be screened, and a discussion with the reporters, producers and editors who created them will follow.
The forum will be held in conjunction with the 2000 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards in television and radio journalism, which will be presented Wednesday, Jan. 19 and aired nationally on PBS beginning Thursday, Jan. 20.
Below is the panel schedule. The daytime events are free and open to the public by reservation (212) 854-5047. Media coverage is welcome. Media ONLY should RSVP to Abigail Beshkin, (212) 854-6581. All panels will be held at Columbia's Graduate School of Journalism, 116th & Broadway, Lecture Hall.
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9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.:
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Following the Money - Covering Campaign Finance
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Moderator:
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Gwen Ifill, Washington Week in Review; The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, PBS.
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Panelists:
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Senator Russell Feingold (D-WI), Co-Sponsor of the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform Bill
Andrew Kohut, Pew Research Center for the People and the Press
Charles Kolb, Committee for Economic Development
Charles Lewis, The Center for Public Integrity
Peter Overby, National Public Radio
Paul Taylor, Alliance for Better Campaigns
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11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.:
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Humor & Satire - How They Spin the News
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Moderator:
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Ted Koppel, Nightline, ABC News
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Panelists:
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Dick Cavett, Comedy writer and talk show host
Kate Clinton, Columnist, The Progressive, comedy writer, performer
Rusty Harper, Humorist, Montana Logging & Ballet Co.
Mark Katz, Humor writer for President Clinton
Robert Krulwich, ABC News
Pat Oliphant, Syndicated political cartoonist
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2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.:
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The Winner's Circle
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A discussion of three duPont-Columbia Award-winning programs, featuring the reporters, producers and editors who created them.
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