Preparing for spontaneity at the DNC

Look what they found. Upon entering the Pepsi Center on Wednesday, I tried to rendezvous with Westword cartoonist Kenny Be, who was working in the bloggers lounge, located in a part of the venue I hadn't visited the day before. This attempt took me into the bowels of the building,...

By Michael Roberts

August 28, 2008

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Look what they found.

Upon entering the Pepsi Center on Wednesday, I tried to rendezvous with Westword cartoonist Kenny Be, who was working in the bloggers lounge, located in a part of the venue I hadn't visited the day before. This attempt took me into the bowels of the building, which served as a staging area for Democratic National Convention staffers like the ones seen here. They wheeled hundreds upon hundreds of we-love-Joe-Biden signs toward distribution points, so that when the Dems' vice presidential choice began speaking, they'd suddenly materialize in the hands of delegates just in time to be captured any and every camera in the vicinity. Making something seem spur-of-the-moment obviously takes a lot of planning. -- Michael Roberts

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

Contact: Michael Roberts

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