Election 2012: Fox New Anchor Martha MacCallum P'17... 'The Forum'...Delbarton's Presidential Debate
Jessica Fiddes
Posted October 23, 2012
The Election 2012 presidential debates concluded and it it now time for Delbarton's electioneering to heat up.
The official kick-off was a one hour session with Fox News Anchor Martha MacCallum P'17 on October 23rd in the FAC in an event sponsored by the Delbarton Mothers' Guild. Click here for photos.
MacCallum, mother of eighth grader Reed Gregory '17, spoke to other Delbarton parents, the eighth grade and several other lucky classes, about last night's debate which she called "a prize fight of mental gymnastics". She also discussed her professional life and how she balances family and with her career (Fox News sounds like a very humane employer.)
MacCallum asked parents to introduce their children to politics at an early age and to encourage conversation and debates at home. Don't coddle or over-protect your offspring. "Democracy and civility are extremely fragile", she said. "The protectors are our children." They need to stay informed. She also offered advice to students on how to build a career. She used her own life as an example. After graduating from St. Lawrence University, MacCallum did a one year program in theater. Her first job was as a fact checker for a financial publication in NYC, which gave her a deep appreciation for ferreting out the truth.
Next, she was hired by the Wall Street Journal which led to her first on-air job with the fledgling WSJ TV. CNBC then hired her to report from the floor of the Stock Exchange for six years, followed by an anchor position with her current employer Fox News.
Interested in a career in TV news? MacCallum advises that "I want to be an anchor" is not the best way to begin. Instead, think big and take the best starter job you are offered in the profession. Then work hard, really hard. MacCallum's advice is suitable for every profession: trust that you can do great things, then just get out there and get started.
MacCallum fielded questions from audience members who were curious about the candidates, the election, the debates and, yes, even the candidate's wives. As for the debates, viewership diminishes with each debate so the first debate was possibly most significant to the election's outcome. And the election itself? All eyes are on Ohio, Indiana and Wisconsin. Oh, and Florida. Let's not forget the Sunshine State
Meanwhile the political scene is heating up at Delbarton too.
Check out the latest issue here of The Forum, the newest campus publication, a monthly (or possibly bi-monthly depending on editors' workloads) op-ed magazine launched by seniors Matt Chuckran '13 and Conor Ryan '13, with help from Kabbas Azhar '13 and Nishwant Swami'13. The boys produced a test issue last spring and this is the second issue of the 2012-12 school year. They plan to print fifty copies of each issue and post the publication online to reach a wider audience. Go Greener Wave.
The Forum is a departure from the Delbarton Courier's more varied and newsy reportage. Each Forum is filled with opinion pieces that drill down on a single topic. Think of it as the Delbarton Forensics Society in print, with students and teachers contributing thoughts and ideas. If you are interested in getting involved it its content, stop by the next Forum meeting in the Gregory Room during M Block next Tuesday, October 30.
Finally, this Friday, October 26 during M Block all are invited to attend the History Club-sponsored Presidential Debate in the Gregory Room. As Delbarton promoters say, Don't be part of the 47%; missing it would be 'not optimal'.
Delbarton thanks Fox News's Martha MacCallum for sharing with her listeners the fascinating back story of Election 2012. On this we can all agree: May the best man win.
