PHOENIX – An estimated audience of 1 million people from across Arizona joined a live town hall conversation on April 2 about the COVID-19 impact in our state.

Nearly 100 radio and TV stations across Arizona broadcast the live event commercial free. While there was no live audience at the town hall due to social distancing needs, more than 5,000 questions were submitted to the joining stations by listeners and viewers in every corner of Arizona.

The conversation featured Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, Arizona Department of Health Services Director Dr. Cara Christ, Arizona National Guard Major General Michael McGuire and State of Arizona Chief Operating Officer Daniel Ruiz.

You can watch the entire townhall here:

In addition to the hour-long event, the four state leaders spent an extra 15 minutes answering questions once the live broadcast ended. That Q&A can be viewed here:

“There’s nothing more valuable in uncertain times than a shared conversation that we can all join in real-time,” said Arizona Broadcasters Association President and CEO Chris Kline. “I can’t thank Arizona’s broadcasters enough for coming together and making such a critical commitment to conversation with our state leaders.”

Moderated by journalists Ted Simons and Carey Pena, the town hall aired as a partnership between the Arizona Broadcasters Association and Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Arizona State University.

Other supporting partners included Skyview Networks in Scottsdale and RIESTER ad agency in Phoenix.