‘NewsHour,’ NPR Unite For Election Coverage

At the Corporation for Public Broadcasting board of directors meeting today, NPR and PBS NewsHour announced an agreement to work together during the 2016 elections.

NPR News and PBS NewsHour will cover the 2016 political conventions together: one team of journalists and one broadcast, designed to work for radio and television as well as digital audiences.

This joint coverage will seek to leverage the work of journalists in more than 200 public radio newsrooms and PBS stations across the country. And primetime live simulcasts from the conventions — July 18-21, 2016, for the Republican National Convention and July 25-28, 2015, for the Democratic National Convention — will be a first for public media.

“Our goal at the conventions, and throughout the elections, will be to grapple with issues and engage voters. We’ll listen to what they think is important and push toward a journalism that contributes to a more civil electoral discussion,” said Michael Oreskes, NPR SVP of news and editorial director. “We want to minimize handicapping elections like a horse race. Picking winners is the job of voters. Our job is to produce the most comprehensive issue-based election coverage.”

“Our combined resources across the PBS NewsHour and NPR represent some of the most experienced political reporters and analysts in the country,” said Sara Just, executive producer of the PBS NewsHour and SVP of WETA Washington. “By creating a stronger collaboration, our television viewers, radio listeners, and millions online and on social media will benefit.”

The convention special broadcasts will be anchored by the PBS NewsHour co-anchors and managing editors Judy Woodruff and Gwen Ifill. NPR reporters will be on the convention floors talking with delegates and elected officials. NPR National Political Correspondent Mara Liasson, Senior Editor Ron Elving and Political Editor Domenico Montanaro will be featured analysts as well as the NewsHour’s Political Director Lisa Desjardins and others.

As part of its comprehensive election coverage, NPR and PBS NewsHour are also developing a plan for collaboration with member stations on the 2016 campaign.