NJ PBS, Rowan University and WNYC Radio host NJ Gubernatorial Debate on Tuesday, Oct. 12, at 8 p.m.

NJ PBS, New Jersey's public television network, Rowan University, and public radio station WNYC 93.9 FM and 820 AM will present the second of New Jersey’s two Gubernatorial Debates this election season live on Tuesday, Oct. 12 at 8 p.m. at the University in Glassboro. Coverage will be produced by NJ PBS’s news division, NJ Spotlight News.

Democratic incumbent Phil Murphy will square off against Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli in a 60-minute debate moderated by NJ Spotlight News Sr. Political Correspondents David Cruz and Colleen O’Dea, Rowan Institute for Public Policy and Citizenship Founding Director Ben Dworkin and WNYC’s “Morning Edition” host Michael Hill. 

“We are proud to be partnering with Rowan University and WNYC to bring New Jerseyans this important political event,” said NJ Spotlight News Sr. Managing Editor Jamie Kraft. “Our mutual goal is to present constituents with an evening of valuable insight into these two candidates that will help them make informed decisions at the polls in November.”

The live broadcast, titled NJ Decides 2021: Gubernatorial Debate, will be anchored by NJ Spotlight News anchor Briana Vannozzi and broadcast and streamed live throughout the region across the hosts’ platforms.  Watch on NJ PBS (check local listings), the NJ PBS and NJ Spotlight News social platforms and NJSpotlightNews.org; on Rowan University’s Facebook page; and listen live on WNYC 93.9FM, 820AM, and wnyc.org, and its New Jersey Public Radio stations WNJT-FM 88.1 Trenton, WNJP 88.5 Sussex, WNJY 89.3 Netcong and WNJO 90.3 Toms River.

Afterward, Cruz will host a special streamed edition of his public affairs program “Reporters Roundtable with David Cruz” on NJ PBS YouTube that will provide additional insight into the debate and the issues facing both candidates.

Media are welcome to embed the streamed coverage with credit to NJ PBS/Rowan University/WNYC. All constituents can follow and join in on debate discussion on Twitter using hashtag #NJDecides.

Currently, the debate plans to welcome an audience of both invited and public guests.  That is subject to change.  A filing room for press will be available at the University, where journalists can watch the televised event and campaign representatives are expected to make themselves available for interview after the debate.  Attendance confirmation and press coverage details to follow.

Leading up to the gubernatorial debate, NJ Spotlight News and WNYC journalists, along with experts from Rowan and other institutions, will participate in a series of virtual conversations covering issues of importance around the state specific to the November election. Between Sept. 14 and Oct. 7, the “NJ Decides 2021: NJ Spotlight News Election Conversations” series will unpack issues including the state budget, education, health care, social justice, clean energy and climate change providing a glimpse what may be next for New Jersey.  The events will be followed live Q&A chat sessions with the panelists.  Find out more here.

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About NJ PBS

NJ PBS, New Jersey's public television network, brings quality arts, education, and public affairs programming to all 21 counties in the state. Headquartered at the Agnes Varis NJ PBS Studio in Newark, with additional studio space at New Jersey City University, the network offers diverse local programs including Chat Box with David Cruz, NJ Business Beat with Rhonda Schaffler, Here's the Story, Drive By History, One-on-One with Steve Adubato, Reporters Roundtable with David Cruz and State of the Arts and PBS favorites such as Nature, NOVA, Amanpour and Company and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. Its award-winning newsroom provides multiplatform reporting from across the Garden State on its weeknight newscast, NJ Spotlight News with Briana Vannozzi, and digitally via NJSpotlightNews.org, plus live news specials, roundtable discussions and daily newsletters. The MyNJPBS.org network website offers online programs and free digital resources for educators via PBS LearningMedia New Jersey. NJ PBS is operated under an agreement with the state of New Jersey by Public Media NJ, Inc. (PMNJ), a non-profit affiliate of The WNET Group, parent company of award-winning New York public television stations THIRTEEN and WLIW21.

About Rowan University

Rowan University is a Carnegie-classified Top 100 public, national doctoral research institution dedicated to excellence in undergraduate education. The University offers bachelor’s through doctoral programs to nearly 19,000 students through its campuses in Glassboro, Camden and Stratford, New Jersey, and online.  Focused on practical research at the intersection of engineering, medicine, science and business, Rowan has earned national recognition for innovation, commitment to high-quality, affordable education, and developing public-private partnerships.

ABOUT WNYC
With an urban vibrancy and a global perspective, WNYC is New York’s public radio station, broadcasting and streaming award-winning journalism, groundbreaking audio programming and essential talk radio to the city and beyond. WNYC is a leading member station of NPR and broadcasts programs from the BBC World Service, along with a roster of WNYC-produced local programs that champion the stories and spirit of New York City and the surrounding region. From its state-of-the-art studios, WNYC is reshaping audio for a new generation of listeners, producing some of the most beloved nationally-syndicated public radio programs including Radiolab, On the Media, The New Yorker Radio Hour, and The Takeaway. WNYC broadcasts on 93.9 FM and AM 820 to listeners in New York and the tri-state area, and is available to audiences everywhere at WNYC.org, the WNYC app and through major digital radio services, all made possible through the generous support of our members, donors and sponsors.