Ok... maybe it's not today's biggest news about a debate (congrats, Drexel, by the way), but the announcement of our first ever mayoral candidate forum webcast seems pretty big to me.
All you have to do, any time between now and the event itself on October 25th at 10 am, is: (1) go to this page, (2) click on the Register button, (3) fill out the form and (4) sit back and wait for an email that will give you details on how to do some easy checks to make sure your computer will be ready to access this historic event.
At the time of the event, you can simply log in using the first and last name that you provided on the registration form. So if you decide to register as Amanda Hugenkiss, you better remember that. Once you're logged in, you'll be able to watch the live event, submit questions to the events producers that we may pass along to the candidates AND participate in a live chat with other viewers during which you can make comments about what the candidates say. It's like being able to talk during the movie without getting popcorn thrown at you.
I almost forgot the most exciting part. We want you to co-star in the event with the candidates (and WHYY's Brenda Jorett). Earlier this week, the Inquirer had an editorial about the Next Great City initiative's plan to have user-generated YouTube video questions as part of their forum on October 15th.
Here we have a case of great minds thinking alike - or at least great minds stealing the same idea from CNN! We're also looking for folks to submit a home made video about their most important issue. Be creative about it! You wanna have an avatar that's "some sort of monster with the body of a walrus and the head... of... a sea lion" ask your question for you? Go ahead! Make a cartoon. Take the camera outside with you and get some footage that helps illustrate your question.
Go to our Mayoral Forum page for some guidelines about the video and all of the ways you can submit it. (The easiest being put it on YouTube and send us the link.)
Trust me... this won't be the last time you're going to hear about this event so get to work on that video and register to watch!