Tweet
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
Georgiana Vines: Foreign press gets taste of Knoxville
News Sentinel
Georgiana Vines
11-01-2010
Eleven journalists from the former Soviet bloc are observing the
off-year elections this week in Knoxville as part of a U.S. State
Department program to introduce them to journalistic principles and
practices.
But the group - considered rising leaders in Eastern European countries
such as Armenia, Estonia, Latvia and Russia - also are getting a taste
of local politics. Russian is their common language.
They had lunch at Wright's Cafeteria on Friday as guests of Knox County
Mayor Tim Burchett and then met with him and some of his managers at the
City County Building. I arranged these activities as one of my duties as
a lecturer in the University of Tennessee School of Journalism and
Electronic Media, which is hosting the group.
Mustafa-Masi Nayyem, a producer/editor for a political TV show in the
Ukraine, was one of the few who spoke English. He said he was interested
in participating in the program because he's interested in what freedom
of speech is like in the U.S.
"I'm also interested in what's going on in America and how. I can see
what's on TV," he said.
The lunch at Wright's was all local. Owner David Wright served the meat
portions as usual. An interpreter helped with translations.
In the side room where the group sat was another group - all Republicans
having a regular get-together. The group included several former
Republican chairmen, former state Rep. H.E. Bittle and Knox County
Criminal Court Clerk Joy McCroskey.
"Do Democrats eat here?" one of the visitors asked upon learning who was
in the crowd.
Burchett, a Republican, has hosted the Russian journalists before as a
state senator.
"It's important for them to see what the U.S. is about. It's about
Wright's Cafeteria. David's mama and daddy were on this site for their
grocery store. I've grown up here and have good memories," he said.
He also said freedom of the press is "one of the strengths we have. We'd
better let folks see the good here."
The foreign journalists are hearing from UT political scientists and
journalism educators during their stay, which started Thursday and ends
Wednesday. They will tour broadcast, print and online facilities while
in Knoxville, ending on Tuesday in the News Sentinel newsroom as
Election Day comes to a close.
"Obviously the election process in the U.S. is different from the
processes they might see in the world, particularly where they are from.
This is wonderful exposure on how we conduct our democracy on the
political level," said Peter Gross, the journalism school's director.
n FROM CYPERSPACE: Mike Clark, Democratic nominee in the 1st District
congressional race against U.S. Rep. Phil Roe, a Republican, disagreed
with this column a week ago when it reported he was doing little
campaigning.
He said media coverage is lacking in the race. He said East Tennesseans
know more about differences in the Kentucky Senate race than about
differences between his and Roe's positions on issues, which has
resulted in apathy.
"This, as much as anything else, especially voter preference, has
perpetuated GOP government in East Tennessee, I believe, and made it
difficult for even local candidates to be able to be taken seriously or
to stand on even footing," he said in an e-mail.
Georgiana Vines is a retired News Sentinel associate editor. She may be
reached at 865-577-6612 or [email protected].
From: A. Papazian
Georgiana Vines: Foreign press gets taste of Knoxville
News Sentinel
Georgiana Vines
11-01-2010
Eleven journalists from the former Soviet bloc are observing the
off-year elections this week in Knoxville as part of a U.S. State
Department program to introduce them to journalistic principles and
practices.
But the group - considered rising leaders in Eastern European countries
such as Armenia, Estonia, Latvia and Russia - also are getting a taste
of local politics. Russian is their common language.
They had lunch at Wright's Cafeteria on Friday as guests of Knox County
Mayor Tim Burchett and then met with him and some of his managers at the
City County Building. I arranged these activities as one of my duties as
a lecturer in the University of Tennessee School of Journalism and
Electronic Media, which is hosting the group.
Mustafa-Masi Nayyem, a producer/editor for a political TV show in the
Ukraine, was one of the few who spoke English. He said he was interested
in participating in the program because he's interested in what freedom
of speech is like in the U.S.
"I'm also interested in what's going on in America and how. I can see
what's on TV," he said.
The lunch at Wright's was all local. Owner David Wright served the meat
portions as usual. An interpreter helped with translations.
In the side room where the group sat was another group - all Republicans
having a regular get-together. The group included several former
Republican chairmen, former state Rep. H.E. Bittle and Knox County
Criminal Court Clerk Joy McCroskey.
"Do Democrats eat here?" one of the visitors asked upon learning who was
in the crowd.
Burchett, a Republican, has hosted the Russian journalists before as a
state senator.
"It's important for them to see what the U.S. is about. It's about
Wright's Cafeteria. David's mama and daddy were on this site for their
grocery store. I've grown up here and have good memories," he said.
He also said freedom of the press is "one of the strengths we have. We'd
better let folks see the good here."
The foreign journalists are hearing from UT political scientists and
journalism educators during their stay, which started Thursday and ends
Wednesday. They will tour broadcast, print and online facilities while
in Knoxville, ending on Tuesday in the News Sentinel newsroom as
Election Day comes to a close.
"Obviously the election process in the U.S. is different from the
processes they might see in the world, particularly where they are from.
This is wonderful exposure on how we conduct our democracy on the
political level," said Peter Gross, the journalism school's director.
n FROM CYPERSPACE: Mike Clark, Democratic nominee in the 1st District
congressional race against U.S. Rep. Phil Roe, a Republican, disagreed
with this column a week ago when it reported he was doing little
campaigning.
He said media coverage is lacking in the race. He said East Tennesseans
know more about differences in the Kentucky Senate race than about
differences between his and Roe's positions on issues, which has
resulted in apathy.
"This, as much as anything else, especially voter preference, has
perpetuated GOP government in East Tennessee, I believe, and made it
difficult for even local candidates to be able to be taken seriously or
to stand on even footing," he said in an e-mail.
Georgiana Vines is a retired News Sentinel associate editor. She may be
reached at 865-577-6612 or [email protected].
From: A. Papazian