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Things went so well the last time Milwaukee Public Television taped “4th Street Forum” at Carthage, station officials decided to take the weekly news show on the road regularly.

The tour returned to campus Wednesday, Oct. 22. A crew of about a dozen came to film two episodes in Niemann Media Theater, as nearly 70 students packed the audience.

Milwaukee Public Television filmed two episodes of community issues show "4th Street Forum" at Niemann Media Theater on Oct. 22, 2014. From left: Host Denise Callaway, Professor Yuri Maltsev, state Sen. Lena Taylor, former state Rep. Terri McCormick, and Professor Jerald Mast. Milwaukee Public Television filmed two episodes of community issues show "4th Street Forum" at Niemann Media Theater on Oct. 22, 2014. From left: Host Denise Callaway, Professor Yuri Maltsev, state Sen. Lena Taylor, former state Rep. Terri McCormick, and Professor Jerald Mast.Guests included two Carthage faculty members: Yuri Maltsev, professor of economics, and Jerald Mast, associate professor of political science. Former Republican legislator Terri McCormick and Democratic state Sen. Lena Taylor completed the panel. Denise Callaway, executive director of the Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation, hosted both programs.

MPTV General Manager Ellis Bromberg and “4th Street Forum” producer Deidre Martin said their strong partnership with Professor Arthur I. Cyr and the ability to expose students to community issues made the College an attractive site. 

The panel first discussed the upcoming midterm elections in an episode titled, “The U.S. Senate – A Shift in the Majority Ahead? What Will It Mean to Wisconsin?” The second focused on “The Governor’s Race and Wisconsin’s Future.”

Although the panelists weren’t shy to bring out their opposing views, audience members noted the discussion was more civil than what’s seen on various cable news shows.

“Tabloid journalism has become mainstream, and this is an antidote,” said Prof. Cyr, director of the A. W. Clausen Center for World Business and director of the International Political Economy program.

He said the collaboration with MPTV increases Carthage’s visibility in the Milwaukee market and beyond. Citing the expanding interest in BBC programming, Prof. Cyr added the public is thirsting for more serious discussion.

The first of the episodes taped at Carthage aired on both Oct. 24 and Oct. 26. The second episode can be seen at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, or at 10 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 2. All past shows can be viewed at the program’s website.