Students getting DNC experience

Student editors from the East Meck Eagle and the Providence Prowl came to the Observer today for the UNC Chapel Hill journalism school's forum on Southern presidential politics.  They got to hear PBS NewsHour reporter Judy Woodruff introduce academic experts who talked about race,  poverty,  immigration and political trends.

Sydney Greene (left) and Anna Talarico

And that's just the beginning for Anna Talarico,  co-editor of the Prowl,  and Sydney Greene, managing editor for the Eagle online.  Both will be involved with an array of events connected with the Democratic National Convention,  including a just-announced appearance by political analyst Juan Williams at East Meck this week.

Sydney said she left with three pages of notes,  and was especially intrigued by talk of the re-emergence of Southern poverty.  Several speakers pegged education as vital to the region's economic future.

Anna,  whose family moved here from Columbus,  Ohio,  when she was in first grade,  loved hearing about  how Southerners differ from the rest of the country.  Both young journalists are especially psyched about seeing President Obama's speech on Thursday night.  And both got a close-up look at the changes the convention is bringing:  When participants left the Observer,  the streets outside were lined with police awaiting the arrival of the protest parade.

Bill Allen, Candace Brandt and Anna

Kudos to Eagle adviser Bill Allen and Prowl adviser Candace Brandt  for getting their students involved,  and to the N.C. Scholastic Media Association,  which operates out of UNC Chapel Hill,  for letting them know about the opportunity.  It's always good to see young people getting engaged in local events,  and this week they get to play their role on the national stage.