Media bus teaches government

It has visited 29 state capitals and 62 schools. And about 235 elected leaders, 2,100 teachers and 17,200 students have climbed aboard.

So far.

Apparently the road to the White House isn’t a long one only for the candidates.

C-SPAN’s Campaign 2008 Bus stopped by South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa Monday morning and gave the public a tour of the gadget-filled mobile production room and show-and-tell of the network’s coverage.

“If you have a sense of how it works here you’ll be able to take a step back and see how what you’re watching affects you,” said Steve Devoney, C-SPAN’s media specialist.

Tours for students show how all that political coverage they see on TV is put together.

The bus is equipped with a conference room and a production studio equipped with all the editing, sound and video equipment needed for a news program.

The two big flat-screens at ceiling level give a handy introduction into C-SPAN’s programming and political coverage of the presidential race that will culminate with the inauguration in January 2009.

“This gives a nuts-and-bolts of what television really is,” Devoney said.

The 45-foot bus began trailblazing across the country in January promoting C-SPAN, political events and sharing its educational programs with teachers and students.

Visitors will be mock-interviewed by the crew on camera and maybe even get to control what’s on the screen.

“Everyone walks away with something,” whether it be technical or political know-how, Devoney said.

The network’s educational website, c-spanclassroom.org, educates students on the happenings in government and what the presidential candidates say.

The country’s cable networks fund the political public service station.

“C-SPAN is like a tool when you look in your tool box. It was created to try to get the public into the stream of government,” Devoney said.

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at joseph.serna@latimes.com.