NPR AND IOWA PUBLIC RADIO TO PERMIT FULL PUBLIC ACCESS OF JANUARY 9-10 PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES, FOLLOWING ORIGINAL BROADCASTS AND WEBCASTS
May 18, 2007; Washington, D.C. – NPR and Iowa Public Radio, which previously announced they will partner to produce two live national presidential debates in Des Moines for public radio on January 9-10, 2008, will make the recordings of these debates fully accessible to all media outlets and individuals, without license restrictions, following each of the original broadcasts/webcasts.
The public radio Democratic and Republican debates will take place in advance of the 2008 Iowa Caucus, which is January 14. They will be exclusive to NPR Member stations for the initial radio-only broadcast and available permanently through NPR.org, iowapublicradio.org and NPR Member stations’ websites.
“Debates are a core part of public radio’s public service mission, and our goal is always to give the broadest audience the widest opportunity to use the candidates’ ideas and words. Our decision to place these recordings in the public domain, without restriction, is a natural extension of our mission,” said Ken Stern, Chief Executive Officer, NPR.
According to Joan Kjaer, Deputy Director, Iowa Public Radio, “Iowa is in a privileged position with its long history of first-in-the-nation caucuses. Iowa Public Radio believes that it’s our responsibility to provide not only Iowans but the nation free and open access to the words and policy statements of those running for this most important office.”
These productions mark the second time NPR news is collaborating with the Iowa public radio station community to host presidential debates.
