NPR's Debate Fact-Checker Breaks Records, Partners with PBS for Veep Debate
Make NPR.org & PBS.org Your Second Screen for the Presidential Debate Coverage
Tuesday, October 4; Washington D.C. – NPR's real-time online fact-checking tool attracted millions of readers during last week's debate, drawing 7.4 million page views from more than 6 million users over Monday and Tuesday – NPR's largest two web traffic days ever.
NPR's online fact-checking delivers live, annotated transcripts and fact-checks courtesy of more than 24 journalists from NPR's team of experts in specialties ranging from national security, to immigration, to climate issues. On air fact-checkers include White House correspondent Scott Horsley, political reporter Scott Detrow, business correspondent Jim Zarroli, justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, health policy correspondent Alison Kodjak and more.
Must Follows
Starting with tonight's vice-presidential debate, NPR will make its fact-checking tool available at PBS.org/election. Additionally, NPR.org will be hosting PBS NewsHour's live video stream from the debates. This is part of the NPR and PBS partnership for Elections 2016.
"The success of NPR's online fact-checking proved what we already knew to be true – amidst all the dubious claims, mistruths and punditry there is a real appetite for the truth," said Michael Oreskes, NPR's SVP of News and Editorial Director. "NPR exceptional coverage of these debates has already garnered a record breaking audience, and we hope to increase those numbers by making our fact-checker available via PBS.org. We are inviting viewers to make NPR's fact-checker your so-called 'second-screen' while watching these debates. Our goal is to provide fair minded reporting and insightful analysis, so that listeners and viewers have the tools and information to make their own choices."
NPR News coverage and fact checking will be available to listeners and viewers on Member station broadcasts, online at NPR.org, PBS.org/election, at Facebook.com/nprpolitics, on the NPR Politics Podcast, and on your mobile device with the NPROne app.
See stations and broadcast times at npr.org/stations (Special coverage for each debate is live from 9-11pm ET). This special coverage will stream live on NPR.org and through NPR One.
Follow NPR Politics on Twitter (@nprpolitics) and Facebook and NPR on Snapchat (@npr) for live updates, photos and reports from the field.
WATCH LIVE: The 2016 Vice Presidential Debate
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/watch-vp-debate/
About NPR
NPR connects to audiences on the air, online, and in person. More than 26 million radio listeners tune in to NPR each week and more than 30 million unique visitors access NPR.org each month making NPR one of the most trusted sources of news and insights on life and the arts. NPR shares compelling stories, audio and photos with millions of social media users on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube and Snapchat; NPR News and NPR One apps, online streaming, podcasts, iTunes radio and connected car dashboards help meet audiences where they are. NPR's live events bring to the stage two-way conversations between NPR hosts and the audience in collaboration with the public radio Member Station community. This robust access to public service journalism makes NPR an indispensable resource in the media landscape.
About PBS NewsHour
PBS NewsHour is seen by over four million weekly viewers and is also available online, via public radio in select markets, and via podcast. PBS NewsHour is a production of NewsHour Productions LLC, a wholly-owned non-profit subsidiary of WETA Washington, D.C., in association with WNET in New York. Major funding for PBS NewsHour is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, PBS and public television viewers. Major corporate funding is provided by BNSF, Lincoln Financial Group, MD Anderson Cancer Center, XQ Institute, and 23andMe, with additional support from Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, the J. Paul Getty Trust, the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Lemelson Foundation, National Science Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Ford Foundation, Skoll Foundation, Friends of the NewsHour and others. More information on PBS NewsHour is available at www.pbs.org/newshour. On social media, visit NewsHour on Facebook or follow @NewsHour on Twitter.
About PBS Election 2016
PBS Election 2016 is a year-long, cross-platform initiative that brings together PBS' news, public affairs, documentary and digital programming to create a comprehensive look at the 2016 election cycle. Acclaimed series PBS NEWSHOUR, FRONTLINE and WASHINGTON WEEK, as well as new and returning series and specials such as THE CONTENDERS – 16 FOR '16 and AMERICA BY THE NUMBERS, will cover breaking news, provide context for political issues and explore behind-the-scenes stories of the candidates and the election process. PBS Election 2016 also includes a partnership with NPR in which the two organizations will share information across broadcast, radio and digital platforms.
Contact
Ben Fishel, NPR Media Relations
Email: mediarelations (at) npr.org