Tickets Available for Sept. 24 SPJ Governor's Debate

 
The first debate between Gov. Kate Brown and challenger Dr. Bud Pierce will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, in the Deschutes Room at Riverhouse on the Deschutes in Bend. The event is hosted by the Oregon Territory Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

The hour-long debate will focus solely on issues facing Oregon’s rural residents. Candidates will get 90 seconds for opening statements, then will field questions from a panel of journalists: Emily Cureton, producer and host with Jefferson Public Radio; Erik Lukens, editor of The Bend Bulletin; Pedro Quintana, reporter with KTVZ; and Tim Trainor, deputy managing editor of The East Oregonian. Sara Roth, producer of longform and investigative projects for KGW.com, will moderate.

SPJ Oregon is hosting this debate in partnership with The East Oregonian, The Bend Bulletin, KTVZ and Jefferson Public Radio.

The debate will be aired on KTVZ and live-streamed on KGW.com.

The public is invited to be part of the debate’s live audience. General admission tickets are free but must be reserved in advance through Eventbrite at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spj-governors-debate-tickets-27499106568

“Our driving force in organizing this debate was to shine a light on rural Oregon, its issues and its talented journalists,” said SPJ Oregon President Samantha Swindler. “Our mission is to promote quality journalism, and that starts with the ability to have access to and ask tough questions of the candidates for governor.”

SPJ Oregon is hosting this debate in partnership with The East Oregonian, The Bend Bulletin and Jefferson Public Radio.

ABOUT SPJ OREGON: The Oregon Territory Chapter of SPJ is the professional organization representing journalists throughout the state of Oregon and Southwest Washington. SPJ Oregon members champion freedom of the press; train journalists; encourage students; recognize excellence; and promote the highest ideals of journalism. We provide training, networking and funding opportunities for members. Learn more at spj.org.

INFORMATION FOR MEDIA: Members of the media are invited to attend and report on the debate by reserving seats through Eventbrite. Non-flash photography and recording is permitted, but no live-streaming of the event is allowed. Wifi access will be available in the banquet room. A limited number of pool audio ports are available to journalists. To inquire about access, email spjoregon@gmail.com.

MEDIA CONTACT INFO: Samantha Swindler, SPJ Oregon president: 503-812-8992, samanthaswindler@gmail.com

Oregon Territory SPJ seeks new board members

The Oregon Territory chapter of SPJ is looking to fill two vacancies on its board of directors. With the chapter board election later this month, now is the time to sign up to serve a one-year term.

The board, which sets chapter policies and organizes various journalism events, meets once a month, usually alternating between Portland and Salem.

This month the board is coordinating the final details in staging the first gubernatorial debate, set for Saturday, Sept. 24, in Bend and sponsored by SPJ and other media partners.

Over the past year, the chapter has organized a variety of training and advocacy activities, ranging from reporting and writing workshops to working with the Oregon Attorney General's office to update the state's open records law. The chapter also helps organize the annual Northwest Excellence in Journalism Competition.

If these are the kind of issues and events that you would like to see continue and expanded, please consider joining your journalism colleagues on the chapter board.

For more information, contact any of the current board members listed on the chapter website or call or email chapter President Samantha Swindler at 503-812-8992 or sswindler@oregonian.com. Or write to the chapter email at spjoregon@gmail.com.

For more information about the chapter and its activities, see the Oregon Territory SPJ website at oregonterritoryspj.blogspot.com.

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