INFORMATION FOR
William Paterson University, along with its media partners, WCBS broadcast affiliates in New York and Philadelphia and The Record/USA Today Network, will host the second and final New Jersey gubernatorial election debate on Wednesday, October 18, 2017 at 7 p.m. in the Shea Center for Performing Arts on campus.
Faculty in the departments of communication and political science are inviting students to submit questions for the candidates. At least one student, and possibly two students if time permits, will be selected by faculty to ask a question of the candidates during the debate. In addition, a number of students will assist the organizers behind the scenes.
Media partners will provide coverage via television, radio, print, web and social media throughout New Jersey. The debate will be broadcast live by WCBS-TV (New York), KYW-TV (Philadelphia), WCBS Radio (New York), WINS Radio (New York), and KYW Radio (Philadelphia) and the CBS broadcast will be streamed on Facebook Live and via the websites of The Record/USA Today Network. The broadcast will be simulcast in Spanish on CBS affiliates and an SAP option will also be available for viewers.
“Our selection to host the debates is a great honor for our University,” says President Kathleen Waldron. “Our participation in this important event for the fourth time, having hosted gubernatorial debates in 2013, 2009, and 1997, underscores our long institutional commitment to civic engagement. We are pleased to again play a significant role in our state’s electoral public affairs.”
The debate will be moderated by Kristine Johnson, co-anchor of WCBS-TV in New York, who also moderated the debate in 2013. The media panel will also include Jessica Dean, co-anchor of WKYW-TV in Philadelphia, Alfred Doblin, the editorial page editor for The Record, who also served on the media panels in 2013 and 2009, and Levon Putney, anchor/reporter for WCBS Radio.
The broadcast of the debate will be shown in the Atrium, Cheng Library, and the Martini Conference room in Hobart Hall, where a post-debate discussion panel will be held with faculty and students. Professors Joann Lee, communication, and Christine Kelly, political science, will moderate the post-debate discussion.
The University also worked with media partners to conduct digital town hall events during September to help develop themes and ideas for debate questions.
