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September 17, 2007

Iowa Caucuses subject of first Chamberlin Lecture

For the first Gene and Margaret Chamberlin Lecture Series, Iowa State University's Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication have selected a topic that is at the forefront of the news in Iowa and the nation.

"Covering the Caucuses" will be held Tuesday, Oct. 2, at 8 p.m. in the Sun Room of Iowa State's Memorial Union. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Journalists Sandy Johnson and Chuck Raasch will be the featured speakers at the lecture as they discuss the importance of the first stage in the presidential campaign. Johnson is the Washington Bureau Chief for the Associated Press while Raasch is the political editor for Gannett News Service.

The Gene and Margaret Chamberlin Lecture Series annually brings to campus a speaker or speakers of national stature in the field of news or advertising. Michael Bugeja, professor and director of the Greenlee School, said the choice of a topic and speakers was an easy one to make.

"The Iowa Caucuses are in the news virtually every day in the media," Bugeja said. "And it's appropriate that we look how our state is covered at the national level.

"Our speakers have first-hand knowledge of the Caucuses. Sandy Johnson has directed the AP's political coverage for every presidential election since 1986 while Raasch has covered presidential campaigns since 1988."

Bugeja believes that during presidential elections Sandy Johnson is one of the most influential journalists in the world.

At the Associated Press, Johnson is responsible for editorial and photo coverage of the federal government and national politics. Under her direction, the AP won the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for news photography of the Monica Lewinsky scandal and the impeachment of President Bill Clinton. She also directs the AP's polling unit.

Raasch has covered political campaigns since 1978, including Tom Daschle's first race for Congress and George McGovern's last race for the U.S. Senate.

Gene Chamberlin is a 1954 graduate of Iowa State with a major in agricultural journalism. Margaret McFerran Chamberlin (Cole) is a 1955 general science graduate of Iowa State. The Chamberlins are the retired publishers/owners of the Mobridge Tribune in South Dakota.

The lecture is sponsored by the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication and the ISU Committee on Lectures.