WILL FERNANDEZ
Election 2008 Coverage
Posted Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008

DENVER — I’ve spent most of the week talking to people I don’t know trying to get them to give me a few minutes of time. I had not much reflected on the fact that I was a “14-year-old kid” standing on the floor of the convention.

That is, until a reporter from San Francisco’s KTVU-TV, David Stevenson, asked to do an interview with me about what it was like to cover the convention as a student and what kind of technology I was using to tell my story and whether or not I was blogging about my experience.

In many ways, I have some natural advantages. One, it helps to stand 6 feet. I’m less likely to get lost in an audience, and I’m actually taller than most of the delegates.

That said, most delegates seem honestly willing to help a student reporter, though I do not think they see me in the same way they view other reporters. They see my interview as a fun way that they can tell about what they’re doing and not have to be worried with any tough questions.

Boy were they wrong. When I asked them about what they saw as their main issues and what they thought about the two choices for president and their stances, I received numerous “ummms” and “ahhhs,” not ready to answer in-depth questions with a student. I’m here to report about this election and how it is important to our school and our country.

But it must have been obvious that it was my first convention when I entered the floor of the stadium in shock of how many people were there and how many of them I had seen on TV. The floor is like New York traffic: It’s a never-ending sluggish/stand-still movement. No seats are found for kids or press unless you are with major media or are a very close relative of a delegate (and even then you have to know the right people.) So probably the youngest person with a seat is a 17-year-old delegate from Minnesota, the youngest of any delegate among the Democrats.

Katie Couric, anchor of the "CBS Evening News," broadcasts from the Democratic National Convention in Denver. With her is CBS political correspondent Jeff Greenfield. Gargoyle photo by Will Fernandez (click to enlarge)

After a while you get tired of moving around the masses on the floor because you’re not allowed to stand in any aisle. This is where being part of the press helps out.

Instead of continuingly moving around and around I decided to stand right next to the booth where Katie Couric was filming her evening news show for CBS. I just tried to blend in with other reporters and cameramen capturing the wonder of this historic event.

Not many other kids or teens are here. It makes any 20-something feel like a 5-year-old compared to the 30- or even 40-year veterans of conventions (aka my father). Really, the only people I have seen who are close to my age are the sons and daughters of the politicians and a reporter for Scholastic Kids Press Corps.

Most of the events I’m not even “allowed” to get into because you are supposed to be 21. This is easily avoided by putting on a nice Brooks Brothers coat and walking tall and proud. Just go through security talking about economic reform or a new environmental idea you have, and you’ll get past with a breeze.

I can tell that most adults are willing to give me the story more than any of the other reporters. For example, when I interviewed State Sen. Mike Frerichs of Champaign, he took it totally professional. He set up a time for me to interview him, and then we sat down and talked. Most people here came to Denver because they’re excited about what’s happening, and they want they’re voices to be heard. They are willing to give their story to anyone, even a high school reporter from Champaign-Urbana.

But once you get into these events and past the interviews, you find the best part: the gourmet appetizers. Since I arrived, I’ve only had one real meal. This is because there are so many parties that you are full of the amazingly small and amazingly good hors d'oeuvres.

Also the first day I arrived at the hotel I had trouble finding a good connection to the Internet until I found out about the media tents. All over the city are booths run by Google, MySpace, and Facebook letting people use their computers to do work and check up on friends. Also you can experiment with all the new applications and technologies that they are trying out at the convention.

In all, this experience is surreal. I have been able to meet so many people I don’t know but who affect my life in a huge way. I’m able to meet the politicians that you hear about in the papers and see in the news. And to be at this historic convention, a convention that could help elect the first African-American president, drives me speechless. All of these people have come together because they believe in this one man's voice for change, and together they believe they can and will succeed.

Remaining Schedule for the Democratic National Convention

Note: All events listed below will take place at the Pepsi Center unless otherwise noted.

Wednesday, Aug. 27: Securing America’s Future

• Headline prime-time speaker: Barack Obama’s vice presidential nominee, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware

• Featured speakers will include former President Bill Clinton, former Sen. Tom Daschle of South Dakota, Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, Sen. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley

Thursday, Aug. 28: Change You Can Believe In

• On Thursday night, the DNCC will throw open the doors of the convention and move to INVESCO Field at Mile High so that more Americans can be a part of the fourth night of the convention as Barack Obama accepts the Democratic nomination

• Additional details of the program preceding Obama’s acceptance speech to be announced