-Caveat Lector-
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [FAIR-L] ACTIVISM UPDATE: PBS Defends Its Free Airtime Policy
Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 22:56:00 -0600 (CST)
From: FAIR-L <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Organization: ?
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
FAIR-L
Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting
Media analysis, critiques and news reports
ACTIVISM UPDATE:
PBS Defends Its Free Airtime Policy
October 31, 2000
PBS has responded to hundreds of letters from activists around the country
criticizing its policy regarding free airtime for presidential candidates.
PBS has made two and half minutes available at the end of its NewsHour
newscast for eight nights, reserving four nights for Al Gore and four nights
for George W. Bush. FAIR pointed out in a October 25 Action Alert that this
policy duplicated the exclusionary nature of the presidential debates
moderated by NewsHour anchor Jim Lehrer.
The full text of the PBS response appears below. PBS explains that it had
two criteria for determining which presidential candidates would be granted
free airtime: "(1) that on October 10, 2000, they be on the ballot in states
with enough electoral votes to have a mathematical chance of winning, and
(2) that on that date they reach an average of at least five percent public
support in five different nationally recognized polls."
PBS notes that only Gore and Bush met these requirements. But PBS does not
explain why they chose October 10 as an arbitrary cut-off date. If rising
media attention to a candidate resulted in increased poll numbers after
October 10, as has happened with Green Party candidate Ralph Nader in some
polls, PBS's rules would still exclude the candidate.
If PBS did not use the October 10 cut-off date, Nader would have met the
guidelines. Around the time of the PBS announcement, Nader was polling 5
percent in an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll (10/13-15), 5 percent in a
Newsweek poll (10/18-20), 5 percent in a Gallup/CNN/USA Today
poll(10/16-18), 8 percent in an International Communications Research poll
(10/18-22), 5 percent in a Christian Science Monitor poll (10/19-22), 5
percent in a Harris poll (10/19-26), and 5 percent in a Zogby International
poll conducted for Reuters/MSNBC (10/24/-10/27).
On an August 18 NewsHour broadcast, Gore campaign adviser Tad Devine said of
Nader: "I don't think he'll be a significant factor in determining the
outcome of this election in any single state." The Nader campaign seems to
be proving that statement false-- but PBS's free-airtime proposal has not
reflected recent developments in the presidential campaign.
The full response from PBS is as follows:
-----
Thank you for writing to PBS regarding presidential candidate free airtime.
We value your suggestions and comments.
In September, PBS contacted presidential candidates Harry Browne, Pat
Buchanan, George W. Bush, Albert Gore, John Hagelin and Ralph Nader,
offering them air time under two conditions: (1) that on October 10, 2000,
they be on the ballot in states with enough electoral votes to have a
mathematical chance of winning, and (2) that on that date they reach an
average of at least five percent public support in five different nationally
recognized polls. Only Vice President Gore and Governor Bush met both of
these criteria.
The 5 percent public support threshold is significantly below the 15 percent
level set by the Commission on Presidential Debates for inclusion in the
nationally televised presidential debates. The 5 percent threshold conforms
to the percentage of votes necessary in a presidential election to receive
federal funding in a subsequent election.
Third party candidates and their issues have been and will continue to be
covered by The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer in its regular election reporting.
PBS's final Democracy Project Election 2000 program, "Time to Choose--A
PBS/NPR Voter's Guide," airing November 1, will cover the issues that have
been raised by third party candidates. "A Third Choice," Ben Wattenberg's
history of third party efforts, and "I'm on the Ballot," Award Productions'
look at the significance of third party campaigns and this year's major
third party candidates, were also featured as part of the PBS Democracy
Project lineup this election season.
Thank you once again for writing to PBS. We hope you will continue to enjoy
and support the wide variety of programming available on your PBS member
station.
Sincerely,
PBS Viewer Services
--------
PBS Viewer Services can be contacted at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
----------
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