Event and Ticketing Details
Dates & Times
Tuesday 30 October
6:15 PM - 7:15 PM
Romney’s ‘binders full of women’. Pro-choice versus right-to-life. The rise of China and the slump of the American economy. These are just some of the issues that will decide the results of the closely fought American presidential election, for an electorate more polarised than ever, and divided by race, religion and class.
What are the cultural issues that truly matter for the American people? What will drive them to leave their houses and vote? And just how much does the campaign circus of conventions, debates and pressing the flesh influence what happens on election day?
Former Foreign Correspondent host George Negus, author and speechwriter Don Watson and the ABC’s Eleanor Hall, just back from covering the first presidential debate, will talk about the culture, rhetoric and atmosphere of America, as reflected through the presidential campaign.
Featuring
Don Watson
Don Watson is the author of many books, including Recollections of a Bleeding Heart, Death Sentence, American Journeys, The Bush and The Passion of Private White. He contributes regular pieces to the Monthly. High Noon is his third Quarterly Essay.
Eleanor Hall
Eleanor Hall is the voice of ABC Radio’s The World Today at lunchtime, which delivers national and international news and analysis to more than a million listeners nationally, throughout the region and online. She is also a presenter on The Drum on ABC television.
She made her professional home at the ABC after working and studying in the United States as a recipient of the Harkness Fellowship and earned her Master’s in journalism from Columbia University in New York.
More recently, she studied for a term at Oxford at the Reuters Institute where she submitted a paper on Barack Obama’s e-campaign and politics in the Youtube age. With more than 20 years experience as a television and radio journalist, including as a Washington correspondent, in the Canberra press gallery, on Lateline, Foreign Correspondent and 7.30, Eleanor has reported with intelligence and compassion from all corners of the globe.
Sally Warhaft
Sally Warhaft is a Melbourne broadcaster, anthropologist and writer. She is the host of The Fifth Estate, the Wheeler Centre’s live series focusing on journalism, politics, media, and international relations, and The Leap Year ...
George Negus
George Negus has written, directed and presented Australian commercial and public television current affairs since 1975 – with a special passion for international affairs and Australia’s place in the world.
He worked independently via Negus Media International for more than 20 years, as well as roles as presenter/interviewer and reporter for ABC’s Foreign Correspondent, Australia Talks and George Negus Tonight; Channel Nine’s 60 Minutes and Today Show; Channel Seven’s coverage of both Gulf Wars; SBS TV’s flagship international affairs program Dateline, and Ten Network’s 2011 news analysis program at 6/6.30pm. He continues in 2012 as occasional international/national affairs commentator on Australian TV and radio.
Books include the most recent bestsellers The World From Italy and The World from Islam and The World From Down Under, produced with Negus Media and publisher Harper Collins.