FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WGBH News and The Boston Globe to broadcast and stream first one-on-one conversation with Martha Coakley and Charlie Baker, moderated by Jim Braude and Margery Eagan

BOSTON, Mass. (October 16, 2014) – On October 21st, WGBH News and The Boston Globe will broadcast the first one-on-one debate between Democratic gubernatorial candidate Martha Coakley and Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker. The debate, which will take place from 7:00-8:00 pm, will be moderated by Jim Braude and Margery Eagan, hosts of 89.7 WGBH’s Boston Public Radio, and will also include questions on key issues posed by Boston Globe reporters. Eagan is also a columnist for Crux, the Boston Globe Media site covering all things Catholic.

The debate will be broadcast live on WGBH 2 and 89.7 WGBH, as well as live-streamed on WGBHnews.org and BostonGlobe.com. WGBH’s sister stations WGBY-TV in Springfield and WCAI-FM for the Cape and Islands will simulcast the debate. Audiences can follow coverage on Twitter from @WGBHNews and @BostonGlobe using the hashtag #MAGov14.  

“We are proud to host the first one-on-one debate and believe it will provide a unique insight into the positions of the two leading candidates,” said WGBH News managing editor Linda Polach. “It is important that all citizens learn as much as possible about the candidates before casting their votes on November 4th and WGBH News and The Boston Globe are proud to provide a format conducive to that.” 

WGBH News will make the debate available for broadcast to all interested media. Additional information and logistics details are included below.

WGBH News provides comprehensive local politics coverage across television, radio and online and is committed to sharing substantive reporting on the issues and candidates running for governor. During the preliminary campaign, WGBH News reporters, along with its podcast series, The Scrum, followed issues ranging from political advertising and endorsements to the casino ballot question and immigration reform. Shortly after the primary, WGBHNews.org also brought on politics experts from the blog MassPoliticsProfs, adding unique political science expertise from local universities to the digital newsroom’s politics coverage.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning Boston Globe is the largest news organization in New England and the largest news organization covering the 2014 elections. The Globe’s weekly political section, Capital, published in print and on BostonGlobe.com every Friday, features in-depth election coverage and weekly polls on the gubernatorial race, ballot questions, and other issues critical to Massachusetts voters. The Globe’s veteran political team covering the elections has decades of experience reporting on Massachusetts politics.

WHAT:
2014 Massachusetts Gubernatorial Debate
presented by WGBH News and The Boston Globe 

WHO:
Attorney General Martha Coakley, candidate
Charlie Baker, candidate
Jim Braude, co-host of WGBH’s Boston Public Radio, Moderator
Margery Eagan, co-host of WGBH’s Boston Public Radio, Moderator

WHEN:
Tuesday, October 21st, 7:00-8:00PM

WHERE:
WGBH Studios, One Guest Street, Brighton, Mass. (Directions)
Parking available in adjacent Guest Street Garage (Parking Information

MEDIA CREDS:
All media planning to cover the debate must contact WGBH Media Relations
by 3pm on Friday, October 17. Email Colleen Flynn (colleen_flynn@wgbh.org) with name, organization and any technical needs. Media will have access to Internet during the debate.

SAT TRUCKS:
Space for satellite trucks will be available in the WGBH visitor parking lot and
must be reserved in advance. Access will NOT be permitted to any station 
that has not pre-registered. Satellite trucks may not arrive before 10am on October 21 and must be in place by 3pm.

To reserve a space and confirm arrival time, contact WGBH Production Services Ed Chuk (ed_chuk@wgbh.org) by 3pm on October 17.
 
PHOTOGRAPHY:
The Boston Globe will provide pool photos shortly after the start of the debate. No additional still or video photography is permitted in the studio or atrium before or during broadcast. 

To request pool photos, please contact Devon Lerose at devon.lerose@globe.com or 617-929-3173. Requests must be made by 3pm on October 17; please include contact name, contact phone and contact email of where the photos should be sent. 

MORE INFO:
WGBH News will make the television and radio broadcasts of the debate available for free to interested media. All outlets that take the stream to broadcast excerpts from the debate must credit WGBH News. 
 
About WGBH
WGBH Boston is America’s preeminent public broadcaster and the largest producer of PBS content for TV and the Web. WGBH’s television channels include WGBH 2, WGBH 44, and the digital channels World and Create. WGBH Radio serves listeners across New England with 89.7 WGBH Boston’s Local NPR®; 99.5 WCRB; and WCAI, the Cape and Islands NPR® Station. WGBH also is a major source of programs for public radio (among them, PRI’s The World®), a leader in educational multimedia (including PBS LearningMedia™, providing the nation’s educators with free, curriculum-based digital content), and a pioneer in technologies and services that make media accessible to deaf, hard of hearing, blind, and visually impaired audiences. Find more information at wgbh.org.

About Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC
Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC provides news and information, entertainment, opinion and analysis through its multimedia properties. BGMP includes The Boston Globe, BostonGlobe.com, Boston.com and Globe Direct. 

MEDIA CONTACTS

Michael Raia, WGBH
617-300-5333
Michael_raia@wgbh.org

Colleen Flynn, WGBH
617-300-3904
colleen_flynn@wgbh.org

Mary Zanor, Elevate Communications
617-548-1107
mzanor@elevatecom.com

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