For immediate release
Chicago, IL - January 22, 2019
WTTW News today announced the launch of a comprehensive digital voters’ guide in advance of the City of Chicago’s Municipal Elections in February and (conditionally) April 2019. Along with the digital resource hub, WTTW will present a series of mayoral forums; one-on-one interviews with candidates; and extensive, daily coverage of the election and insightful analysis.
“This election will have a tremendous impact on the city and its residents, and as a leading public media organization, we feel it is our responsibility to ensure that voters have the information and resources they need to make informed choices,” said Mary Field, Executive Producer of WTTW’s nightly newsmagazine Chicago Tonight. Election coverage will include:
2019 MUNICIPAL ELECTION DIGITAL VOTERS’ GUIDE
wttw.com/votersguide
The digital guide, available now, offers an easy-to-navigate and comprehensive library of resources for voters. An interactive ward-by-ward map gives voters a snapshot of each ward’s candidates and demographics such as population, ethnicity, and mean household income. Explainers for the key races include mayor, city clerk, city treasurer, and city council/alderman, and will feature candidate profiles and recorded video messages from the candidates stating their positions. Visitors to the site will also find a guide to daily WTTW News coverage of the municipal elections, including updates on the contested city council/aldermanic races throughout the election season.
CHICAGO TONIGHT: ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATIONS WITH MAYORAL CANDIDATES
Chicago Tonight’s team of journalists, producers, and hosts have decades of experience reporting on the issues and offices that matter most to Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods. Members of the team have conducted one-on-one interviews with each of the mayoral candidates, searchable on wttw.com/news.
MAYORAL CANDIDATE FORUMS
Chicago Tonight will host three live forums in February, all at 7:00 pm. Two of the forums are in partnership with the City Club of Chicago and will take place in front of a live studio audience. Viewers can watch the forums on WTTW11, wttw.com/news, on WTTW Facebook and YouTube channels, and via app. Candidates’ names are in alphabetical order, and the forums will vary in length:
|
DATE |
CANDIDATES |
|
Thursday, February 14 |
Bob Fioretti |
|
Monday, February 18 |
Bill Daley |
|
Tuesday, February 19 |
Gery Chico |
*Invited but not yet confirmed
Note: Candidates who do not make the official ballot will have their invitations rescinded.
APRIL 2 RUNOFF ELECTION COVERAGE
Should there be a runoff election, WTTW’s coverage will include an updated Digital Voters’ Guide, candidate forums featuring runoff contenders, two in-depth biographical documentaries for the remaining mayoral candidates to air several times prior to April 2, and daily WTTW News coverage of the key contested races.
About CHICAGO TONIGHT
WTTW’s flagship nightly newsmagazine Chicago Tonight celebrated 30 years on the air in April 2014. Airing at 7:00 pm weeknights on WTTW11 and live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube, and online at wttw.com/news. The award-winning series hosted by Phil Ponce covers Chicago stories in politics, arts, science and technology, health, business, architecture, education, history, and more. The website presents original reporting, extensive video, a comprehensive archive of Chicago stories and other special features. Audiences can connect with Chicago Tonight on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
About WTTW
WTTW is the PBS member station in Chicago, committed to creating and presenting unique media content across distinct television and digital channels – WTTW11, WTTW Prime, WTTW Create/WTTW World, WTTW PBS Kids 24/7, wttw.com and the PBS/WTTW video app. Recognized for award-winning journalism and local productions such as Chicago Tonight, Chicago River Tour, Check, Please!, digital-first series Urban Nature and Foodphiles and national productions 10 That Changed America and Nature Cat, WTTW presents the very best in public affairs, arts and culture, nature and science, history and documentary, and children’s public media content. Connect with WTTW on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
