CHICAGO (Sept. 26, 2018) -- WBEZ 91.5 FM, Chicago’s NPR news station, and Chalkbeat Chicago, a non-profit media outlet covering education, are teaming up to interview Gov. Bruce Rauner and his Democratic challenger J.B. Pritzker about the future of education in Illinois. The two half-hour interviews will air back-to-back on WBEZ on Oct. 3 at 8 a.m. in A WBEZ/Chalkbeat Election Special: Testing the Candidates for Governor.
WBEZ and Chalkbeat Chicago are soliciting questions for the candidates from parents, educators and voters, both online and in social media the week of Sept. 24. Kate Grossman, WBEZ senior editor for education, and Cassie Walker Burke, Chalkbeat Chicago bureau chief, will select top questions for both candidate interviews.
Following the special election broadcast on WBEZ on Oct. 3, Grossman and Walker Burke will then join WBEZ’s The Morning Shift at 9 a.m. for follow-up and analysis with Host Tony Sarabia.
“In these interviews we are aiming to provide insight into both gubernatorial candidates’ ideas, plans and perspectives on the future of education in Illinois,” said Grossman. “We hope this special will arm voters with information they need about top education issues before they cast their vote for Illinois governor this November.”
“Both of our news organizations are committed to education coverage in this state, and the heated back-and-forth between the campaigns can drown out meaningful policy discussions,” said Walker Burke. “We’re eager to hear where each candidate stands – and not just on our questions, but also those submitted by our combined audience of readers and listeners, from parents and policy leaders to students and educators.”
To submit questions for the candidate interviews, visit www.wbez.org/govtest.
About WBEZ 91.5FM Chicago
WBEZ, Chicago’s NPR news station, serves the community with fact-based, objective news and information. WBEZ’s award-winning journalists ask tough questions, dig deep for answers and expose truths that spark change and foster understanding. WBEZ Chicago is home to two daily local programs, The Morning Shift and Worldview, and a growing portfolio of popular podcasts, including the “Making” series of Making Obama and Making Oprah; Nerdette; and Sound Opinions. WBEZ Chicago has a legacy of innovation as the birthplace of nationally acclaimed programs such as This American Life, and Wait Wait...Don’t Tell Me! and the ground-breaking podcast, Serial.
Download the WBEZ app, available in the App Store and Google Play. Learn more about WBEZ Chicago and its award-winning programming and on-demand digital content at wbez.org or on Facebook or Twitter @wbez.
About Chalkbeat Chicago
Chalkbeat Chicago is a nonprofit news outlet covering early childhood and K-12 education, focusing especially on efforts to improve schools for all children. In addition to Chicago, which is its newest bureau, Chalkbeat covers schools in New York, Detroit, Denver, Newark, Indiana and Tennessee. Find us online at www.chalkbeat.org/Chicago or on social media @chalkbeatchi.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Betsy Berger, WBEZ Director of Communications
312.893.8572 or 847-308-1762 (cell)
bberger@wbez.org
Chalkbeat Contact:
Laurie Glenn, Thinkinc.
773-704-7246
lrglenn@thinkincstrategy.com