Washington Journal
Encyclopedia
Washington Journal is an American
television series on the C-SPAN
network
in the format of a political call-in and interview
program. The program features elected officials, government administrators and journalists as guests, answering questions from the hosts and from members of the general public, who call in to the studio or submit questions via e-mail and social media
.
The three-hour program airs every day of the year beginning at 7 a.m. Eastern Time
, except when special events or coverage of Congress
preempts all or part of the program. The audio of the program also airs on WCSP-FM as a simulcast
with the television broadcast.
Saturday and Sunday editions were originally just two hours long; on January 20, 2001, they were expanded to a full three hours.
Simulcasts of Washington Journal on C-SPAN's radio station, WCSP-FM, began on October 9, 1997; it was the first program to be broadcast on the station. One hour of the Sunday edition of Washington Journal is also simulcast on BBC Parliament
in the United Kingdom, preceded by America This Week, an hour of recorded C-SPAN programming.
The program is noted for the participation of its viewers who may call in, submit questions and comments via e-mail or, since March 5, 2009, Twitter. As facilitators of conversation between the public and C-SPAN guests, Washington Journal hosts do not offer their own perspective on issues, and leave more pointed questions to callers, though they will frequently ask for clarifications from callers and guests. Consistent with its emphasis on reflecting a wide variety of viewpoints, C-SPAN aims to take approximately 60 calls in each program, and roughly 20,000 calls per year.
In the early days of Washington Journal, callers were not screened by ideology. This was changed at the recommendation of University of Maryland
professor John Splaine, hired by C-SPAN to ensure the network's objectivity, who noticed that C-SPAN received a disproportionate number of calls from conservative viewers. Washington Journal producers now set up separate phone lines by party affiliation (Democrats, Republicans and Independents) and take alternate calls from each line. In some cases, a dedicated call-in line is made available for the international audience (outside the U.S. and Canada), or for a particular group of callers. For example, a program about college tuition may have a line for students and recent graduates. In the fall of 2006, Washington Journal recorded two shows in New Orleans and set up a call-in line for locals to tell their stories from Hurricane Katrina
and its aftermath.
and is hosted by a revolving set of hosts. In November 2009, C-SPAN named veteran television news producer Michele Remillard as executive producer of Washington Journal.
The Washington Journal theme music is Concerto for Trumpet, no. 2 by Johann Melchior Molter
(1696—1765), played at various points during each broadcast. The theme is used as introductory music, as an interlude during transitions, and is played again as the program concludes. Video simulcast of the C-SPAN Radio studio has been shown during transitions at the top of an hour, with the radio host reading the day's news headlines.
, Washington Journal frequently featured discussions on the issue of New Orleans' recovery. On August 21 and 22, 2006 a remote broadcast was set up in the city to interview key players, including U.S. senators David Vitter
and Mary Landrieu
, and local homeowners.
Among C-SPAN's primarily anonymous callers, recording artist and entertainer Cher
made waves by calling into the show on October 27, 2003. Although intending to call anonymously, host Peter Slen correctly guessed her identity, which she reluctantly admitted. She called again on May 28, 2006, and waited on hold for her call to be taken. Cher subsequently appeared on the program on June 14, 2006 to speak about Operation Helmet, a nonprofit organization
providing helmet upgrades for U.S. soldiers.
Television in the United States
Television is one of the major mass media of the United States. Ninety-nine percent of American households have at least one television and the majority of households have more than one...
television series on the C-SPAN
C-SPAN
C-SPAN , an acronym for Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network, is an American cable television network that offers coverage of federal government proceedings and other public affairs programming via its three television channels , one radio station and a group of websites that provide streaming...
network
Television network
A television network is a telecommunications network for distribution of television program content, whereby a central operation provides programming to many television stations or pay TV providers. Until the mid-1980s, television programming in most countries of the world was dominated by a small...
in the format of a political call-in and interview
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
program. The program features elected officials, government administrators and journalists as guests, answering questions from the hosts and from members of the general public, who call in to the studio or submit questions via e-mail and social media
Social media
The term Social Media refers to the use of web-based and mobile technologies to turn communication into an interactive dialogue. Andreas Kaplan and Michael Haenlein define social media as "a group of Internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0,...
.
The three-hour program airs every day of the year beginning at 7 a.m. Eastern Time
Eastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
, except when special events or coverage of Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
preempts all or part of the program. The audio of the program also airs on WCSP-FM as a simulcast
Simulcast
Simulcast, shorthand for "simultaneous broadcast", refers to programs or events broadcast across more than one medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at the same time. For example, Absolute Radio is simulcast on both AM and on satellite radio, and the BBC's Prom concerts are often...
with the television broadcast.
History
Washington Journals antecedent is the C-SPAN daily call-in, a fixture of the network since 1980. The inaugural Washington Journal program aired on January 4, 1995 and the program continues to be shown on C-SPAN in its original time slot.Saturday and Sunday editions were originally just two hours long; on January 20, 2001, they were expanded to a full three hours.
Simulcasts of Washington Journal on C-SPAN's radio station, WCSP-FM, began on October 9, 1997; it was the first program to be broadcast on the station. One hour of the Sunday edition of Washington Journal is also simulcast on BBC Parliament
BBC Parliament
BBC Parliament is a British television channel from the BBC. Its remit is to make accessible to all the work of the parliamentary and legislative bodies of the United Kingdom and the European Parliament...
in the United Kingdom, preceded by America This Week, an hour of recorded C-SPAN programming.
Format
At the beginning of each program, the host reads noteworthy articles and editorials from current newspapers and periodicals as viewers discuss a timely topic chosen by C-SPAN. The program occasionally features "open phones" segments when callers may discuss any topic of their choosing. In multiple segments following, the host interviews guests invited to discuss a specific political or legislative issue, and takes calls from the public. Most guests appear in C-SPAN's Washington or New York City studios, while some guests are interviewed from remote locations.The program is noted for the participation of its viewers who may call in, submit questions and comments via e-mail or, since March 5, 2009, Twitter. As facilitators of conversation between the public and C-SPAN guests, Washington Journal hosts do not offer their own perspective on issues, and leave more pointed questions to callers, though they will frequently ask for clarifications from callers and guests. Consistent with its emphasis on reflecting a wide variety of viewpoints, C-SPAN aims to take approximately 60 calls in each program, and roughly 20,000 calls per year.
In the early days of Washington Journal, callers were not screened by ideology. This was changed at the recommendation of University of Maryland
University of Maryland
When the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...
professor John Splaine, hired by C-SPAN to ensure the network's objectivity, who noticed that C-SPAN received a disproportionate number of calls from conservative viewers. Washington Journal producers now set up separate phone lines by party affiliation (Democrats, Republicans and Independents) and take alternate calls from each line. In some cases, a dedicated call-in line is made available for the international audience (outside the U.S. and Canada), or for a particular group of callers. For example, a program about college tuition may have a line for students and recent graduates. In the fall of 2006, Washington Journal recorded two shows in New Orleans and set up a call-in line for locals to tell their stories from Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
and its aftermath.
Production
The show is hosted from C-SPAN's Washington, D.C. studio overlooking the Capitol BuildingUnited States Capitol
The United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislature of the federal government of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., it sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall...
and is hosted by a revolving set of hosts. In November 2009, C-SPAN named veteran television news producer Michele Remillard as executive producer of Washington Journal.
The Washington Journal theme music is Concerto for Trumpet, no. 2 by Johann Melchior Molter
Johann Melchior Molter
Johann Melchior Molter was a German baroque composer and violinist.He was born at Tiefenort, near Eisenach, and was educated at the Gymnasium in Eisenach. By autumn 1717 he had left Eisenach and was working as a violinist in Karlsruhe. Here he married Maria Salome Rollwagen, with whom he had eight...
(1696—1765), played at various points during each broadcast. The theme is used as introductory music, as an interlude during transitions, and is played again as the program concludes. Video simulcast of the C-SPAN Radio studio has been shown during transitions at the top of an hour, with the radio host reading the day's news headlines.
Notable guests and events
For several days following the September 11 attacks, Washington Journal began at 6 a.m. instead of 7 a.m. Following Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
, Washington Journal frequently featured discussions on the issue of New Orleans' recovery. On August 21 and 22, 2006 a remote broadcast was set up in the city to interview key players, including U.S. senators David Vitter
David Vitter
David Vitter is the junior United States Senator from Louisiana and a member of the Republican Party. Previously, he served in the United States House of Representatives, representing the suburban Louisiana's 1st congressional district. He served as a member of the Louisiana House of...
and Mary Landrieu
Mary Landrieu
Mary Loretta Landrieu is the senior United States Senator from the State of Louisiana and a member of the Democratic Party.Born in Arlington, Virginia, Landrieu was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana...
, and local homeowners.
Among C-SPAN's primarily anonymous callers, recording artist and entertainer Cher
Cher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
made waves by calling into the show on October 27, 2003. Although intending to call anonymously, host Peter Slen correctly guessed her identity, which she reluctantly admitted. She called again on May 28, 2006, and waited on hold for her call to be taken. Cher subsequently appeared on the program on June 14, 2006 to speak about Operation Helmet, a nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
providing helmet upgrades for U.S. soldiers.
Hosts
Washington Journal hosts include, but are not limited to:- Greta Brawner
- Libby Casey
- Pedro Echevarria
- Robb Harleston
- Paul Orgel
- Bill Scanlan
- Steve ScullySteve ScullySteven L. Scully is the senior executive producer, political editor, and host of C-SPAN's Washington Journal, a three-hour early morning cable television public affairs program.-Background:Scully was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, to Hubert L...
, the political editor and senior producer - Peter Slen
- Susan Swain
External links
- C-SPAN Washington Journal schedule and video archive
- First Washington Journal program, January 4, 1995