PRESS
RELEASE from CNN
For Release:
Oct. 6, 2008
CNN’s Debate Night in America Returns
for Second Presidential Debate
Debate Night in America returns for the second presidential
debate between Republican nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and
Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.). CNN again will provide
in-depth and innovative coverage as showcased during the first debate,
which drew more than 7 million viewers. Anchors Wolf Blitzer, Campbell Brown, Anderson Cooper and Lou Dobbs will lead the network’s
special programming Tuesday, Oct. 7, from the CNN Election Center in
New York. Additional members of the “Best Political Team on Television”
will travel to Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., to provide
viewers with front-row seats to the debate.
Debate
Night in America kicks off with special editions of The
Situation Room from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Lou Dobbs Tonight from 7 p.m. to
8 p.m. and Campbell Brown: Election Center from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. The
presidential debate will air from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., followed by a
special edition of Anderson Cooper 360° that runs until midnight.
Throughout the evening, chief
national correspondent John King
will report alongside the “Magic Wall,” breaking down demographic data
in key states. CNN correspondents Jessica
Yellin, Candy Crowley, Ed Henry and senior political
analyst Bill Schneider will be
live on location in Nashville. Senior analysts Gloria Borger, David Gergen and Jeffrey Toobin will offer insight
along with CNN political contributors Paul
Begala, Bill Bennett, Donna Brazile, James Carville, Alex Castellanos, Roland Martin and Leslie Sanchez.
CNN special correspondent Soledad O’Brien will again moderate
a focus group in Columbus, Ohio. The group will be comprised of a
selection of voters from the hotly contested state. During the debate,
the participants will operate electronic dial testers that will allow
television viewers and CNN.com Live users to see the group’s reactions
in real time. In addition, viewers watching the broadcast in
high-definition will see exclusive scorecards gauging positive and
negative information from our panel of commentators.
Online, CNN.com will provide live
updates as news-making moments happen during the debate.
CNNPolitics.com, the site’s political news gateway, will feature
complete coverage and analysis before, during and after the debate.
Up-to-the-minute analysis and fact checks of candidate
statements will be available from the CNN Political Unit on the
Political Ticker, the Internet’s No. 1 political news blog according to
Nielsen Online. Users may engage in real-time conversation about the
debates on The Forum, CNN.com’s recently launched destination for
social and political self-expression.
In addition to live-streaming the
debate in its entirety, CNN.com Live offers users the ability to watch
real-time commentary from bloggers on both sides of the political
spectrum. CNN.com Live anchor Melissa
Long will host hour-long pre- and post-debate shows
including analysis from the “Best Political Team on Television.”
For its post-debate coverage,
CNN.com will offer users the ability to watch the entire debate online
through video on-demand and full text transcripts. Additional
post-debate coverage will include Report Cards for each candidate
featuring “grades” from CNN political analysts, as well as debate
performance ratings from CNN.com users and a searchable video
transcript of the debate. A special edition of the AC360 podcast,
including the entire debate and featuring a special introduction from Anderson Cooper, will be available
on iTunes Wednesday, October 8.
iReport.com, CNN’s
unfiltered user-generated news community, is inviting iReporters to
share their video analysis of the debate, as well as the ways and
places people are watching the debate around the country.
In addition to airing live on
CNN/U.S., the presidential debate will be simulcast on CNN
International, CNN en Español and CNN Airport Network.
CNN Radio will carry the full debate live for its affiliates. At the
conclusion of the debate, CNN Radio will provide a half-hour program
with post-debate analysis.
CNN Newsource will provide its affiliates access to on-site reports
from correspondents Sandra Endo,
Susan Roesgen and RunningMate
correspondent Samantha Hayes.
The Election Express Yourself,
the network’s customized Airstream trailer designed to give Americans
across the nation an interactive political experience, will stop at the
presidential debate site. The airstream trailer will be
located at Centennial Park adjacent to Vanderbilt University on
Tuesday, Oct. 7, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. (CT).
In an effort to help
educators and parents discuss the political process with
students, CNN Student News, CNN’s cost-and-commercial-free
educational program for middle and high schools, is offering several
free resources, including a downloadable one-sheet,
a “Debates Viewing Guide,” and a video explainer about
presidential and vice presidential debates. These online tools can be
accessed by visiting www.CNNStudentNews.com.
CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time
Warner Company, is the most trusted source for news and information.
Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one
private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices
around the world; CNN Digital Network, the No. 1 network of news Web
sites in the United States; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively
syndicated news service; and strategic international partnerships
within both television and the digital media.
-30-
All times Eastern.
For more
information, visit www.CNNPressroom.com.
CONTACTS:
Edie
Emery
Washington,
D.C.
Meryl
Conant
Washington, D.C.