Moments Before the Debate Starts, 6ABC Interview

With a little less than an hour left, I traveled downstairs into the Spin Room which was a very different atmosphere than up at the terrace. In the Spin Room, big media outlets crowded around an open window waiting for the arrival of Philadelphia Mayor Nutter.

Moments before I was able to interview Vernon Odom of 6ABC news after a short broadcast. To young aspiring journalists, Odom said to keep in mind the truth and the “5 Ws—who, what, where, when, why, of course” and to “never let that get out from under you.”

Also, to become a better journalist, it takes learning from those who may know more than you do. During his own budding career, Odom said that his work to veteran reports was like “night and day” comparing how much other reporters knew, “try to grow from it,” he said. To become a good reporter, especially on TV, Odom said to always be “cognizant” and to “act like you don’t know who’s watching you.” To report successfully and truthfully is to “perform a service” said Odom.

This would be the twenty-seventh face to face debate Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama would face, he informed me. So when I asked him about any predictions for the outcome of the debate, and “magic tricks” he said, would be doubtful.

“Politicians are all the same” he said when asked if he was satisfied with the relationships between the campaigning presidential hopefuls. However, Odom also said on the subject that “some are more accessible than others” and “it just takes time to develop professional relations.”

Outside the crowd is still growing and more specialized organizations have been popping up, including anti-abortion protestors and Women for Obama.

Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos are reading the news outside on the terrace for World News Tonight.