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

SPJ Hosts Debate Sept. 24 Between Democratic Gov. Kate Brown and GOP Challenger Bud Pierce

The Oregon Territory Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists announces the first debate between Gov. Kate Brown and challenger Bud Pierce will be held Sept. 24 in Bend.

The debate will focus solely on issues facing Oregon’s rural residents.

“The Oregon Territory SPJ believes it is important to have an honest and open exchange at the highest levels about the state’s future in rural areas,” said Oregon SPJ President Samantha Swindler. “With more than a month between this debate and election day, we hope the issues raised will help give voters enough time to learn where the two major candidates stand on a range of rural issues, from the environment to education to the economy.

“Having the two major candidates participate in this important discussion is, in our view, good for the entire state, and we thank Governor Brown and Dr. Pierce for agreeing to this important discussion,” Swindler added.

Oregon SPJ will host the debate in partnership with The East Oregonian, KTVZ-TV and Jefferson Public Radio. The Oregon SPJ Board sought these distinguished media partners out as they represent some of the best journalism dedicated to serving rural Oregon.

“In helping facilitate this important discussion, the SPJ is turning to the journalists who do an amazing job every day in rural communities,” Swindler said. “We are thrilled to have the panelists for this debate come from The East Oregonian, KTVZ and Jefferson Public Radio.”

The Oregon SPJ is now also looking for media partners based in Portland, and hopes to have an announcement soon on additional partners.

The hour-long debate will be a moderator-panelist format in front of a live audience. Candidates will get 90 seconds for opening statements, then will field questions from the panel made solely of rural journalists. Candidates will get 60 seconds to respond, with a 30-second rebuttal period. Each candidate will be provided with a 90-second closing.

Oregon SPJ will ensure the debate is distributed in the metro Portland and Salem markets by partnering with media groups in those areas. The location for the debate has not yet been finalized. Both those announcements will come by mid-August.

The Oregon Territory SPJ Chapter, which represents journalists throughout the state of Oregon and Vancouver, Wash., is dedicated to strengthening journalism and government transparency.

For more information, contact Sam Swindler at 503-812-8992, or John Sepulvado at 971-803-9300.

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