Hoosier Political Report

INDIANAPOLIS --The landscape for debates changed dramatically this year with the partnership of the Indiana Debate Commission and Indiana's 16 public broadcasting television and radio stations, extending viewership broadly throughout the state prior to the November gubernatorial election.

"This was a great way for candidates to be sure they had every reasonable opportunity to say all they wanted to say to Hoosier voters," said Bruce Haines, president and general manager of WFWA-TV in Fort Wayne , Ind., and president of the Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations (IPBS).

The commitment from IPBS to cover the productions was considerable--totaling $54,425 to produce each of the three debates, which included production, personnel and equipment costs. The stations that provided services were Lakeshore Public Television in Merrillville, Ind., WVUT-TV in Vincennes, Ind., and WTIU-TV in Bloomington, Ind.

The Indiana Debate Commission, a non-partisan volunteer citizen-media group in its first year of operation, met its 2008 goals--to provide free broadcast feeds of the debates statewide, increase voter participation by allowing the public to submit online questions for consideration, and to produce and sponsor three gubernatorial debates.

The first-time series of gubernatorial debates this election season featured Gov. Mitch Daniels, Democrat Jill Long Thompson and Libertarian Andy Horning from September through October at three different venues.

In the site selection process, the commission also secured and chose venues that had professional staffs and partnered with those that were also willing to donate services and support--which accounted for another estimated $74,480 for in-kind support.

The professional staff and volunteers supporting all three debates included more than 200 people at all locations, an unprecedented cooperative effort to present professional debate formats for this year's candidates.

An average of 67 people per venue, including the Star Plaza Theatre, Jasper Arts Center and Indiana University Auditorium, provided logistical support.

"In the commission's first year of operation, we could not have expected more--with everyone from the League of Women Voters working registration tables at the events to donated support in legal services and set design," said Kevin Finch, president of the Indiana Debate Commission and news director of WISH-TV in Indianapolis.

The debate commission's work in 2008 marked a number of firsts for organized gubernatorial debates including extended Web site broadcasts provided by Indiana Higher Education Telecommunication System which were available for post-debate viewing on the commission's Web site.

A total of 2,868 people attended the hour-long debates around Indiana; while 2,826 visited the debates that were posted and archived online.

For the final debate, many commercial TV stations also carried the hour-long broadcast without commercial interruption--including those in the state's largest markets. The central Indiana viewership for the Bloomington event on Oct. 14, according to Nielsen, included 144,950 households.

IDC By the Numbers 2008: Final Facts and Figures

Estimated donation of public television time and hours to broadcast, including personnel and equipment

-- $54,425

Estimated donation of venues for use of facilities, including personnel

-- $74,480

In-person attendance at the debate venues

-- An estimated 1,400 attended the first Merrillville debate

-- An estimated 450 attended the second Jasper debate

-- An actual count of 1,018 people attended the final Bloomington debate

-- Total: 2,868

Worst weather affecting attendance of a debate

-- Unprecedented flooding in Northwest Indiana for the first debate in September

The debate that relied primarily on Internet distribution of free tickets via Ticketmaster

-- Bloomington , Ind.

The debate that relied primarily on public office distribution of free printed tickets

-- Jasper , Ind.

Amount of money charged for the public to attend debates

-- Zero--free tickets were provided for all venues; first come, first served

Number of university students involved in assisting with the broadcasts

-- 22

Broadest debate coverage on TV, aired on radio or carried online by media outlets

-- Final debate in Bloomington on October 14

Number of people who played the archived debates online made available through the Indiana Higher Education Telecommunication System (IHETS)

-- Total of 2,826 watched the debates online

Total number of questions submitted online to the Indiana Debate Commission

-- 421

Total number of questions asked in the time allowed for the three, hour-long debates

-- 24

Amount of funds spent by the debate commission to broadcast three debates via satellite feeds for any commercial or public broadcast outlet

-- $2,229

Total number of journalists who registered for credentials to cover all three debates

-- 224

Total number of Indiana high schools who sent student journalists to cover the debates

-- 2

Broadest debate coverage on TV, aired on radio or carried online by media outlets

-- Final debate in Bloomington on October 14

Audience share in Central Indiana for the final Bloomington debate (commercial numbers only)

-- 144,950 households watched the debate or about a 23 percent market share

About the Indiana Debate Commission

The Indiana Debate Commission is a non-partisan, statewide group of 13 citizen and media organizations dedicated to promoting debates at the state level. Incorporated in the fall of 2007, the IDC will work with candidates, sponsors, venues and citizen groups to promote open, unbiased and transparent debates for Hoosier voters. For more information visit: www.indianadebatecommission.com

Daily News Update - Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 08:17:06 -0500

INDIANA WIRE

Same-sex marriage likely off agenda for 2009

Indiana BMV to sponsor food drive

Daniels to meet Obama as cash-strapped governors press for aid

NORTHERN INDIANA

Gary Post-Tribune

NWI observers think Hillary's a great choice for secretary of state

Times of Northwest Indiana

Local politicians thrilled with picks

North Township assessors staff will compete for reduced county jobs

EDITORIAL: One agency for planning the region's transportation

South Bend Tribune

EDITORIAL: States need smoking bans

Fort Wayne Journal Gazette

Funding plan to fix bridges illegal; alternatives eyed

EDITORIAL: The charter effect

COLUMN: Guess who might run for mayor

Lafayette Journal and Courier

County considers single bid for highway department fuel

Officials 'need to reflect the community'

District 26 recount off to slow start

CENTRAL INDIANA

Indianapolis Star

Lawmakers call for oversight of Child Services

Council seeks review of street project

EDITORIAL: Keep the wheels turning for money-raising ideas

Anderson Herald Bulletin

Third House: Budget process awaits local legislators

Muncie Star Press

Muncie passes budget, but $2 million shortfall remains

Terre Haute Tribune-Star

Harrison Township votes in new trustee

SOUTHERN INDIANA

Evansville Courier & Press

Clinton choice pleases supporters

Warrick GOP fills commissioner's seat

EDITORIAL: Hatch Act The Issue: Law on election eligibility gets a skeptical look. Our View: Not everyone is a federal employee.

Louisville Courier-Journal

Jeffersonville ousts sewer contractor

Daily News Update - Monday, December 1, 2008

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 08:07:26 -0500

INDIANA WIRE

Lawmakers could take up property tax amendment

Township officials give themselves a raise

Opinion: Mayor's run for office was prohibited

NORTHERN INDIANA

Gary Post-Tribune

'Rx for Indiana' has helped more than 250,000

Gary facing budget cuts

Gary political figures Powell, Harris appeal federal convictions

EDITORIAL: Legislation providing for recalls unneeded

EDITORIAL: Soliday on target in calling school forum

Times of Northwest Indiana

Indiana poverty rate soars as manufacturing jobs cut

South Bend Tribune

EDITORIAL: The property tax billing logjam

COLUMN: This is Obama's brand of change

Fort Wayne Journal Gazette

Townships 101

Milan trustee keeps township moving

County ripped for pay raises

EDITORIAL: Welfare changes overdue

EDITORIAL: Raise at expense of county bridges

Lafayette Journal and Courier

Dietrich joins WL City Council

District 26 recount starts today

EDITORIAL: Teen driving restrictions could save lives

CENTRAL INDIANA

Indianapolis Star

Marion County sewer bills likely to go up 50 percent

New director expected to restore confidence at Community Corrections

State legislators unlikely to tackle same-sex marriage amendment in 2009

Daniels says he'll make it short

City rethinks parking privileges

Mayor's trip uses tax funds

COLUMN: Forget holiday party 'rules'; let's talk politics over eggnog

EDITORIAL: Smooth operations guide agency over speed bumps

Muncie Star Press

Eligible students still not signing up for program that provides free college tuition

Richmond Palladium-Item

County might vote on local option income tax

Terre Haute Tribune-Star

Feds: Findings show Hatch Act violation

SOUTHERN INDIANA

Louisville Courier-Journal

Property tax battle turns to timing of vote

Jeffersonville adds user fees

Daily News Update - Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 08:53:52 -0500

Editor's Note: HPR will not be updated the rest of this week and will resume publication on Monday, Dec. 1. Best wishes to you and yours this Thanksgiving.

INDIANA WIRE

Bill would put more restrictions on teen drivers

FSSA streamlining welfare application process

NORTHERN INDIANA

Gary Post-Tribune

Rail deal hits roadblock

Times of Northwest Indiana

St. John council adopts budget

Public can provide input on NW Indiana's future

E.C. sets '09 budget, anticipates state cuts

EDITORIAL: Smoking ban merits more study

South Bend Tribune