BET broadcasting live all week from Democratic Convention

DENVER -- BET News is broadcasting live all week from the Democratic Convention in Denver.

BET News personality Jeff Johnson anchors the network's coverage of the convention from the Pepsi Center in Denver all week.

Positioned in a skybox overlooking the convention hall, Johnson interviews guests and discusses the evening's events with BET's on-air analysts Keli Goff, Jamal Simmons and Keith Boykin, located on the floor of the convention hall among the delegates. The live, prime time convention coverage is a first for BET. 

"We're airing live DNC coverage every night from the convention floor, including pre-and post shows surrounding every major speech," said Russ Torres, Director of News and Public Affairs for BET.

"We'll be talking to politicos, pundits, media analysts, delegates, celebs, you name it, for a wide and nuanced range of views and opinions," Torres said. "Our goal is to wade through the fluff of the made-for-tv spectacles that these conventions often are and report on how each event specifically affects the black community."

Monday night's guests included Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), a former Hillary Clinton supporter who gave instant feedback about Michelle Obama's keynote speech.

The network plans to cover all four nights of the Democratic Convention, including special coverage of Barack Obama's acceptance speech Thursday night at Invesco Field. Jeff Johnson will also anchor his weekly show, "The Truth With Jeff Johnson" Friday night on BET. 
 
With the selection of the first African American nominee of a major political party, black media outlets are especially involved in the 2008 convention and the presidential campaign. Members of the National Association of Black Journalists met on Sunday in Denver at an event hosted by the Colorado Association of Black Journalists. And the black newspaper publishers group, the NNPA, will meet Tuesday night for an event in Denver, sponsored by the Los Angeles Sentinel.

The Democratic National Committee has set up a special media operation for black press and "specialty press" at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. The specialty media operation is run by Flo McAfee, a former White House aide to President Clinton and a veteran media specialist

In addition to BET, TV One is also broadcasting from Denver during the Convention.