Sept. 20, 2024
CONWAY, Ark. (Arkansas PBS) — Arkansas PBS will present four debates featuring 10 candidates in “Election 2024: Arkansas PBS Debates.” Debates will be broadcast live and will livestream at myarpbs.org/elections. Press conferences for candidates who choose to participate will directly follow each debate and will also livestream at myarpbs.org/elections.
Members of the media are required to preregister at myarpbs.org/presspass at least 24 hours prior to each debate.
When: Monday, Oct. 7, through Thursday, Oct. 10. Each debate will be 60 minutes.
Where: Arkansas PBS, 350 S. Donaghey Ave., Conway, on the University of Central Arkansas campus.
Who: Candidates for U.S. Congressional Districts 1-4. Moderator Steve Barnes. Panel of journalists.
Major funding for “Election 2024: Arkansas PBS Debates” is provided by Civic Arkansas: a Winthrop Rockefeller Institute Program. Additional funding is provided by Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce.
Use of debates
The debates are offered free of charge to any Arkansas media outlet that provides an email request for permission to use the shows in their entirety. The programs must be identified by announcement (on air) and caption (on air and online) with “This debate is provided by Arkansas PBS; myarpbs.org/elections.” Debates may be broadcast or streamed with proper identification. The livestream may be embedded or linked. Email thead@myarkansaspbs.org for permission.
Video and audio clips may be used in news reports, but no audio portions may be lifted and used out of context in any way. Excerpts must be identified both by announcement and by caption as a production from “Arkansas PBS.”
You may take the signal off-air or request an HD livestream. Please submit requests at least two days prior to the debate.
Schedule
* denotes incumbent
DAY | DATE | RACE | CANDIDATES | TAPING, LIVE BROADCAST & STREAMING | PRIMETIME |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Monday | 10/7 | U.S. Congressional | *French Hill (R) | 2 p.m. | 10/7 |
Tuesday | 10/8 | U.S. Congressional | *Rick Crawford (R) | 11 a.m. | 10/8 |
Tuesday | 10/8 | U.S. Congressional | Caitlin Draper (D) | 1 p.m. | 10/9 |
Thursday | 10/10 | U.S. Congressional | Risie Howard (D) | 2 p.m. | 10/10 |
HOST |
|---|
Steve Barnes |
DEBATE PANELISTS | |
|---|---|
U.S. Congressional District 1 | U.S. Congressional District 2 |
| TBD | TBD |
U.S. Congressional District 3 | U.S. Congressional District 4 |
| TBD | TBD |
FEEDS, PHOTOGRAPHY AND PRESS ROOM |
|---|
| Members of the media are required to preregister at myarpbs.org/presspass at least 24 hours prior to each debate. |
| All media members should enter through the Arkansas PBS main entrance on Beatrice Powell St., check in at the front desk and receive a press pass. |
| Reporters will not be allowed to talk to candidates before the debate or press conference. |
| Media attending the debates will sit in a press room with a live feed. Wi-Fi will be available. |
| Reporters can be escorted to the studio before the beginning of each debate to see debate preparations, etc. All media must exit the studio 5 minutes prior to the debate start time. |
| Following each debate, brief press conferences will be held in the press room with individual candidates who agree to participate. The press conferences will be livestreamed at myarpbs.org/elections. Only media in attendance will be able to ask questions. |
| A pool feed will be available. Bring your own deck. No TV cameras allowed inside the studio during the debates. HD footage will be available by pool feed. Contact Josh Johnson at (501) 852-2569, jjohnson@myarkansaspbs.org, if you have any questions about video. |
| Please specify if you will be bringing a production truck or live van so that a parking spot will be available. |
| Access to a file for download of each debate will be available to the media shortly following each taping (typically within 30 minutes to one hour). This file is for reporting purposes only and is not for public distribution. |
| Photographers will be allowed to shoot in the studio during taping. No flashes. Do not block audience members’ view. TV cameras will only be allowed inside the studio for footage prior to the debates. Shooting areas will be designated to avoid interfering with taping. Remember that the sound of your camera is easily heard, so please silence your shutter if possible. |
| Photos from each debate will be available at myarpbs.org/photos. Photos may be printed or used online with photo credit to Arkansas PBS. |
| For other inquiries, contact Tiffany L. Head, Arkansas PBS Communications Manager, at (501) 682-4157 or thead@myarkansaspbs.org; or Julie Thomas, Arkansas PBS Communications & Community Engagement Director, at (501) 682-4155 or jthomas@myarkansaspbs.org. |