Check out this article about Democracy's Messengers in Roll Call! "For 200 years, congressional pages — the young messengers recognizably clad in blue blazers — have stood on the sidelines witnessing some of the most momentous occasions in the nation’s legislative history. A documentary set to be released this fall will recount that history, the peaks and pitfalls of one of the most prestigious training programs in the country..." With the help of nearly 150 donors, Democracy's Messengers raised more than $20,000 this fall on crowd-funding website Indiegogo. The funds will be used to put the finishing touches on the documentary before release.
Democracy's Messengers was mentioned in Politico's "Playbook" on November 24. See the clipping here.
The Washington Times published an article November 21 previewing the upcoming documentary:
BY PAUL BEDARD | NOVEMBER 21, 2014 | 12:00 PM It’s been three years since House leaders killed the 200-year-old House Page Program, and now many of those pages are back to tell their story and build support for restoring the program. In a new documentary, even Microsoft co-founder and former page Bill Gates got involved. “I learned a lot, it was a formative experience,” he said in a trailer for the documentary titled, “Democracy's Messengers: The Untold Story of Young Americans on Capitol Hill.” The documentary was part of an Indiegogo crowdfundingeffort that met its $15,000 goal. The page program was killed by House leaders who said it cost too much at $5 million a year. However, a similar Senate program still exists. Some House lawmakers, and former members, are eager to bring the pages back, but are waiting to gauge the mood of the new Congress. Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner's "Washington Secrets" columnist, can be contacted at[email protected]. |