DC alumni networking event at NPR to explore 'New World of Digital Politics'

6:53 p.m., Oct. 6, 2015--In just a few short election cycles, the political world has become a digital one. Campaign advertising, voter outreach, fundraising, media interaction — even “dirty tricks” — have all gone digital. 

To understand this “New World of Digital Politics,” the University of Delaware has gathered a team of media mavens, political strategists and academic experts to lead its next Conversations and Connections networking event, on Thursday, Nov. 12, at the NPR Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

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Moderated by former CNN Washington correspondent and founding director of UD’s Center for Political Communication Ralph Begleiter, the event is especially geared to alumni with an interest in politics and media. 

“This is a phenomenon that’s taken the political world by storm in just the past decade,” says Begleiter. “More than ever, candidates must be vigilant to their appearance, not just ‘in person,’ but on the web, on mobile devices and social media accounts. They have to be alert to attacks on all those fronts, as well as to their own outreach on those fronts.”

The digital politics panel will address what these changes will mean for the 2016 election. Panelists include:

• NPR host Domenico Montanaro: The 2001 UD alumnus is NPR’s supervising political editor, guiding NPR political coverage across all platforms. Montanaro previously served as deputy political editor at NBC News and political director at PBS NewsHour in Washington. 
• Campaign strategist Brian Donahue: The GOP digital strategist is chief executive officer and founder of CRAFT, which provides cutting-edge creative tactics, tools and technology to organizations, associations and brands to move messages and incite action. 
• UD Prof. Lindsay Hoffman: An associate professor in the departments of Communication and Political Science and International Relations, Hoffman is the associate director of the Center for Political Communication and director of UD's "National Agenda" speaker and film series. Her research and teaching examine the role of digital media in politics. 
• NPR correspondent Sam Sanders: A reporter with NPR's Election Unit, Sanders covers the intersection of pop culture and politics on the 2016 presidential campaign trail. His work appears on NPR's Morning Edition and All Things Considered radio programs, as well as npr.org. Previously, Sanders reported for NPR’s Breaking News Unit, and was a producer for NPR’s National Desk. He also teaches radio reporting at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. 

Alumni interested in attending the event can register online.