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Local candidate's daughter refuses student interview
by Casey Williams
Exchange Staff
The Pierce Media Group's political reporting branch, Connections, was disappointed last week when an interview request with the daughter of a local US Senate Candidate was rejected.
During a campus visit last Wednesday, Molly Shaheen, the daughter of former New Hampshire Governor and current candidate for US Senate Jeanne Shaheen, refused a video interview for the Pierce Media Group's YouTube account.
"It's rare and unusual," said Dr. Kristen Nevious, Director of the Fitzwater Center. "We were at the National Conventions and I can't recall anyone ever turning us down from a polite request, other than Governor John Lynch."
Sean Doyle, President of the College Democrats of New Hampshire and the Franklin Pierce affiliate, explained, "It was just an honest misunderstanding. There was some confusion about the filming and Molly wasn't comfortable with being on YouTube." Doyle, a junior, also works for the Shaheen campaign and organized her appearance on campus.
Twenty-two year old Shaheen, the youngest daughter of the former governor, was on campus to campaign for her mother's run for election to the US Senate. She deferred the request to her Media Relations assistant, who declined, following campaign policy.
"We had scheduled an interview with the [Pierce] Arrow beforehand through the Shaheen press department," said Doyle. "They turned down the interview for YouTube because it was not scheduled beforehand."
The PMG will still have coverage of the visit. Student reporter Kim Ruth will publish the scheduled print interview with Shaheen in the next issue of the Pierce Arrow. The Pierce Media Group produces and is responsible for the content of the Arrow.
"For a candidate to refuse an interview, it can be devastating and usually unheard of," said senior PMG Political Director Steve Dodrill. "But for a surrogate, even if it might be a son, a daughter or a relative who is not an official representation of the candidate, it tends to happen more frequently, especially with the age of new media."
Shaheen moved back to the area to work for the campaign after graduating from the University of San Diego. On the campaign website, jeanneshaheen.org, she writes about her travels in a blog. The blog says Shaheen has made appearances on Keene State College's radio station and in a PBS documentary, and is excited to be "reaching out to a larger audience in a productive way."
An e-mail sent to Molly Shaheen at the Shaheen campaign website was not responded to.
With over 500 views to date, the videos of the Pierce Media Group's two YouTube channels have helped make the organization a worldwide political news outlet. The videos are filmed by student reporters utilizing handheld "flip cams," and have even featured presidential nominees John McCain and Barack Obama.
To view any of the PMG's video content, including footage from the 2008 National Conventions, visit their YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/PoliticsFitzU. The second channel, featuring the new campus beat "Politically Speaking" with sophomore reporter Andrew Berger is available at www.youtube.com/user/FitzConnect.
For Shaheen's campaign website, including Molly Shaheen's blog, visit www.jeanneshaheen.org. Shaheen opposes current New Hampshire Senator John Sununu in the United States Senate election, taking place November 4.
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