SCRANTON – October 5, 2018 – C-SPAN’s state-of-the-art 45-foot customized motor coach visited Scranton on October 5. Partnering with Comcast to engage teachers and students, community members and elected officials through interactive demonstrations of C-SPAN’s multi-platform public service resources, the C-SPAN Bus welcomed visitors at the University of Scranton. This visit is part of C-SPAN’s “50 Capitals Tour,” which includes stops in Harrisburg and cities/towns across Pennsylvania. C-SPAN Representatives also gathered video responses from visitors as part of its “Voices from the States” – an opportunity for visitors to share viewpoints on the 2018 midterm elections.
While on the “50 Capitals Tour,” the C-SPAN Bus will visit local schools in each state. Students and teachers will learn about C-SPAN’s national documentary competition, StudentCam. Awarding $100,000 in prize money, the competition challenges students to produce a 5- to 6-minute documentary around the theme, “What does it mean to be American?” Students are asked to choose a constitutional right, national characteristic, or historic event and explain how it defines the American experience.
The high-tech, interactive C-SPAN Bus includes these resources:
- Access to an exclusive interactive experience available on 11 large-screen tablets featuring C-SPAN programming and myriad of political and educational resources
- A smart TV and classroom area for conversations with students and teachers
- A high-definition TV production studio for taped and live programming
- A 360-degree video station featuring C-SPAN’s unfiltered coverage of high-profile events and insightful, behind-the-scenes tours of U.S. landmarks
- A D.C.-themed selfie station where visitors can share their Bus experience through social media
“Comcast is pleased that the C-SPAN Bus is visiting Scranton, bringing their political and educational resources to the community,” said Todd Eachus, Comcast Keystone Region senior director of government & external affairs. “We are proud to serve Scranton and to partner with C-SPAN to present this opportunity to local students.”
C-SPAN embarked on a “50 Capitals Tour” in September 2017 and is heading to every U.S. state capital, culminating in November 2018 for the 25th anniversary of the Bus program. Throughout this 14-month tour, the C-SPAN Bus will open its doors at each state capitol to welcome visitors and interview elected officials during C-SPAN’s signature morning call-in program, Washington Journal.
Since 1993, a C-SPAN Bus has traveled across the nation in partnership with C-SPAN’s cable and satellite providers for local interactions through visits to schools and community events. Visitors to the Bus will engage with the C-SPAN Bus crew and the onboard interactive tools to learn about the unique public service television network, C-SPAN’s online presence and C-SPAN Classroom’s comprehensive educational resources. Bus visitors will learn about C-SPAN’s unique non-commercial, editorially balanced, non-biased coverage of public affairs and political events and the cable industry’s commitment to funding its operations.
In Scranton, C-SPAN programming is provided by Comcast as a commercial-free public service and can be seen on channel 13; C-SPAN2 on channel 59; C-SPAN3 on channel 105 and on the web at https://comca.st/2zMkZzq. All funding for C-SPAN operations, including Bus visits, is provided by cable and satellite providers.
