In its continuing celebration of its 50th anniversary, The Texas Observer, in conjunction with the Open Society Institute, the MFI Foundation, and the LBJ School of Public Affairs, will host a bevy of big names at Lowering the Bar: The Role of the Media in the 2004 Presidential Election. The symposium takes place at the State Theatre, 719 Congress, 10am-3:30pm on Saturday, Dec. 4. Panels include:
What Happened? – The Press and the Practice of Presidential Politics in 2004, at 10am, featuring former New York Times reporter Adam Clymer (whom Dubya branded “a major league asshole”), NPR reporter Wade Goodwyn, and former Observer editors Ronnie Dugger and Molly Ivins;
What Should Have Happened? – What the Press and Presidential Campaigns Weren’t Talking About, at 11:20am, with Democracy Now! radio host Amy Goodman, New Republic Senior Editor John Judis, The Progressive Editor Matthew Rothschild, and former Observer editors Lawrence Goodwyn and Jim Hightower;
The premiere of Paul Stekler’s documentary film short “Texas Observer at 50,” introduced by Texas Monthly Editor Evan Smith; followed by Dazed and Confused – Entertainment Media and Their Impact on Public Understanding of National Politics, at 2:15pm, with film producer Elizabeth Avellán (Spy Kids, Once Upon a Time in Mexico), and filmmakers Richard Linklater (Slacker, Dazed and Confused, Before Sunrise), Laura Dunn (Green, Become the Sky), and Stekler (Settin’ the Woods on Fire).
The event will close at 3:30pm with a short video salute to the Observer from The Daily Show‘s Jon Stewart. Tickets are $10, available at the door. For more info, call 477-0746 or go to www.texasobserver.org.
This article appears in December 3 • 2004.