Intelligence Squared U.S. / Open to Debate Wins 2013 Silver Award at New York Festivals International Radio Programs Awards

18 June 2013
Intelligence Squared U.S.

Open to Debate formerly known as Intelligence Squared U.S. has been named the 2013 winner of the Silver Radio Award for Best Public Affairs Program at the New York Festivals International Radio Programs & Promos Awards. Currently broadcast on over 200 NPR stations nationwide, Intelligence Squared U.S. was selected from entries from over 36 countries by a Grand Jury of industry leaders worldwide, recognizing the series as the World’s Best Work in Programming.

Founded in 2006 and taped in front of a live audience in New York City, Intelligence Squared U.S. has grown into a unique multi-platform experience that spans live events, radio, television, podcasts, digital and social media that is heard and watched by millions internationally. With close to 200,000 monthly subscribers, Intelligence Squared U.S. has become one of NPR’s most popular public affairs podcasts, praised by Forbes as one of “Five Podcasts that Will Change the Way You Think.” Currently airing in nearly 80% of PBS and WORLD channel airing households across major markets including New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Boston, the series also reaches viewers globally through its interactive streaming and video services on Fora TV, Vimeo, and YouTube.

Rose Anderson, Executive Director of New York Festivals International Radio Programs and Promos Awards said, “This year’s New York Festivals Radio Awards Grand Jury of award-winning producers, writers, and programming executives from around the globe judged wide-reaching, complex, innovative and in-depth radio programs from around the world. The exceptional entry by Intelligence Squared U.S. raised the level of public discourse on some of the most divisive issues today and was honored with the NYF Silver Radio Deco Trophy for Best Public Affairs Program.”

“Intelligence Squared U.S. is a shining example of public discourse at its best,” said Eric Nuzum, VP of Programming at NPR. “A program like this could only thrive on public radio. We are elated to see this series recognized with this prestigious award.”

The series has attracted some of the world’s top thinkers including Paul Krugman, Steve Forbes, Karl Rove, Malcolm Gladwell, Alan Dershowitz, Peter Thiel and Arianna Huffington for 75 debates on a wide range of provocative topics including global warming, genetically engineered babies, science refuting religion, a nuclear Iran, the financial crisis, the marketing of organic foods, and the death of mainstream media.

In addition to monthly live events from NYC’s Kaufman Center, IQ2US has recently hosted debates at premiere intellectual events, including the Aspen Ideas Festival, Chicago Ideas Week and will partner with The McCain Institute for International Leadership and The Aspen Strategy Group for inaugural debates this summer. Debates have been featured in The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, New York Magazine, Men’s Health, Forbes, and panelists appeared on MSNBC’s Morning Joe and WNYC’s The Brian Lehrer Show to discuss the series’ timely propositions.

Intelligence Squared U.S. was founded by businessman and philanthropist Robert Rosenkranz. ABC News correspondent John Donvan is the moderator, and the executive producer is Dana Wolfe.