What We Do
Open to Debate is the nation’s only nonpartisan, debate-driven media organization dedicated to bringing multiple viewpoints together for a constructive, balanced, respectful exchange of ideas. Open to Debate is a platform for intellectually curious and open-minded people to engage with others holding opposing views on complex issues.
Open to Debate is a call to action: All of us should keep an open mind to solve the complex problems we face as individuals and as a nation.
Open to Debate is a reminder: To solve our greatest problems, we must operate in a contempt-free zone. We need to be able to sit in the same room and exchange ideas with people we disagree with. Being open to debate is a gesture of respect for the good faith arguments of those we disagree with, for the intelligence and integrity of those who watch or listen, and for the value of debate done right.
Open to Debate is a duty: The future of American Democracy depends on the strength of communities to work together and overcome our differences. “Us vs. Them” thinking is destructive to our social fabric, and we need a national model to guide debates to a healthy and free exchange of ideas.
At Open to Debate, our mission is to restore critical thinking, facts, reason, and civility to America’s public square. Open to Debate is a platform for intellectually curious and open-minded people to engage with others holding opposing views on complex issues.
We know debate works to find common ground. On average, 32% of the Open to Debate audience changes their mind on contentious topics after hearing a debate. That’s the power of debate done right, and at scale, it can change the direction we’re headed in America.
Through weekly debates distributed on public radio, in podcasts and digital videos, we systematically bring opposing viewpoints together for a respectful and open-minded exchange of ideas.
Why did we change our name from Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates? Because Open to Debate better reflects what we bring to the public square. It’s about conveying a new, more focused mission to address how historic levels of polarization are dividing our nation and how we can actually fix it. The key word in the new name Open to Debate is “Open.” That means open to listening. Open to disagreeing. Open to understanding. Open to learning. Open to “the other side.”
2024 Open to Debate + ACOMPANY Creative Lab + KPDI Digital
Website and Mobile Sites
Category: News & Politics
2024 Open to Debate + ACOMPANY Creative Lab + KPDI Digital
Muse Creative Gold Award Winner
Website – News & Newspaper
2024 Open to Debate + ACOMPANY Creative Lab
Website Design Winner
Category: Informational, News, Blog
Branding Winner
Category: Activism, Advocacy, Awareness
2023
Individual Episodes-Business Honoree
Features-Best Live Podcast Recording
Can Humans Adapt to Climate Change
Features-Best Partnership or Collaboration
2021
Political/Commentary
SILVER
The Electoral College Has Outlived Its Usefulness
Coronavirus Will Reshape the World Order in China’s Favor
Anti-Zionism is the New Anti-Semitism
Political/Commentary
BRONZE
Live Events
BRONZE
2020
Public Interest/Awareness
SILVER
Live Events
SILVER
2019
PublicFilm & Video
SILVER
Public Interest/Awareness
BRONZE
2013
Film & Video
SILVER – Live Events
Film & Video
BRONZE -Political/Commentary
2021
Television Show – Informal – National
It’s Time to Redistribute the Wealth