The nation was kept in suspense about the date of the 2008 General Elections for several months, and NOW is the time! In 24 days, up to 150,000 electors will be flocking to the polls in 31 constituencies nationwide to cast their vote, to decide which man or woman they want to represent them in Central Government in Belmopan.
Two of the nation’s most dynamic and informative media houses, KREM Radio/TV and Channel 7, will be teaming up again, just as they did with the Turn It Up municipal elections coveragein 2006, to bring you the action as it unfolds—from the time the polls open at 6:00 a.m. until the last ballots are counted.
7 News director Jules Vasquez told Amandala that viewers and listeners can expect three things: coverage that will be comprehensive from the break of dawn; coverage that will be ubiquitous; and coverage that will be meaningfully entertaining as well as information-driven.
“The main thing to communicate is the commitment and involvement that we have with the election,” said Jules, adding that, “… for those who watch, it will be engaging.”
The team intends to sharpen up on breaking news reports, with round-the-clock coverage of the election beat.
During the course of Election Day, there will also be teams of panelists, comprised of renowned analysts such as Lois Young, Cedric Flowers, Evan X Hyde, Kevin Herrera, and KREM WUB hosts, Kalilah and Mose, who will lead off with a special Election Day edition of the WUB.
The ‘O8 NOW! coverage begins at dawn with the WUB, at around the same time that the polls open.
Jules explained that the inspiration for the theme was two-fold: In anticipation of the 2008 elections, people have been asking, “When? When? When?” and the time is finally here. The other dimension of the theme, he said, reflects the commitment to bring viewers and listeners the election news as soon as it happens.
The KREM/Channel 7 team will continue with reports until the final results are in.
This is the third election collaboration between KREM and Channel 7. The first was The Moment of March 2003.
‘08 NOW Coordinator for KREM, Kalilah Enriquez, told our newspaper that, “KREM and Channel 7 have been known to bring the energy when it comes to election coverage. We have the best reporters, the best team. We will have the information as soon as it is out. We will be there from the time the polls open until the last vote is counted, from the beginning to the end.”