Arizona Media Association To Distribute Up To 29 Political Debates In Partnership With Statewide Local Media

The Arizona Media Association (AMA) is partnering with the Citizens Clean Elections Commission and Riester ad agency to produce and distribute up to 29 political debates in Arizona during the 2024 election season.

As candidates confirm participation later this year, these debates may include Arizona’s US Senate race, US Congressional Districts one through nine and Corporation Commission races during both the 2024 primary and general elections.

In partnership with Phoenix-based BitFire Studios, the debates will be offered in a white-labeled format to all statewide media brands that choose to air them. The debates will be produced with distribution for TV, radio, print and digital-only destinations. The debates will also leverage new technologies like LED graphic walls and include opportunities to create more audience interactivity.

All debates will also be simulcast with Spanish audio translation and include an ASL interpreter.

Media partners will have no costs to participate and will be offered full control to adapt the product to their respective channels and markets.

“We are committed to the most successful debate season possible,” says Arizona Media Association President-CEO, Chris Kline. “We want to make it easy for audiences to get access to this information. Building a network of local media support during this election year is our shared solution.”

Leveraging a coalition of 350 Arizona media brands, the AMA plans to design the debate structure and moderator selection process in partnership with news leaders from a diverse set of media operations around the state with a goal of maximizing confidence and transparency in the process.

All debates will also include an open press format that allows for a media staging room at the location of each event and news conference opportunity with candidates and staff (as each campaign agree).

“We are thrilled about this partnership because it supports democracy,” says Debbie Bush, board chair of the Arizona Media Association. “Our goal is to help voters get direct information from their candidates for political office and this coalition makes that easier.”

The result of this partnership is expected to be statewide simulcasting of major debates, regional simulcasting of local debates and digital distribution of every debate.

All debates will also include statewide marketing support from the Phoenix-based Riester advertising agency.

All primary debates are expected to take place in early summer 2024. General election debates will take place in September and October 2024.