From: "Gene Karpinski, U.S. PIRG Executive Director" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: U.S. PIRG Demand TV coverage of issues, not just negative ads Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 21:16:14 -0400 X-OriginalArrivalTime: 30 Sep 2004 02:15:00.0609 (UTC) FILETIME=[4A0E9710:01C4A693]
Dear U.S. PIRG supporter,
In this election season, while we are bombarded with negative and uninformative political ads, real news coverage of the candidates and issues is declining in both quantity and quality. Broadcasters use our public airwaves for free, in exchange for their pledge to provide public interest programming. It's time for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to require broadcasters to meet their public interest obligations by providing coverage of issues, not just negative ads.
Please take a moment to ask FCC Chairman Michael Powell and the commissioners to finally establish meaningful public interest standards requiring broadcasters to provide real coverage of the candidates and issues. Then, ask your friends and family to help by forwarding this email to them.
Click on this link or paste it into your web browser:
http://pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=467&id4=ES
Background
Broadcast television is our modern-day public square, a forum where those running for public office can express themselves and be heard by many potential constituents. Broadcasters have been granted free use of the public airwaves on the condition that they serve the public interest. But while they are expecting to rake in $1.5 billion from political ads this election season, broadcasters have clearly failed to serve the public interest.
More than half of news broadcasts prior to the 2002 elections did not include a single campaign story. A new study of 2004 election coverage revealed that the four major networks (ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox) devoted just 8% of their news time to the elections in the two weeks prior to the Super Tuesday primaries.
When the transition to digital television is complete, broadcasters will be able to transmit up to six channels where they could only air one before. Now they are demanding yet another handout from the FCC-that cable companies be required to carry all of broadcasters' new digital channels. Before handing over to broadcasters yet another giveaway, Chairman Michael Powell and the FCC should heed the call of Commissioners Jonathan Adelstein and Michael J. Copps and define meaningful public interest requirements that include standards for local civic and electoral affairs programming. It's time for the FCC to ensure that broadcasters provide the information citizens need in order to make informed choices on Election Day.
Please take a moment to ask FCC Chairman Michael Powell and the commissioners to finally establish meaningful public interest standards requiring broadcasters to provide meaningful coverage of the candidates and issues. Then, ask your friends and family to help by forwarding this email to them.
Click on this link or paste it into your web browser:
http://pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=467&id4=ES
Sincerely,
Gene Karpinski U.S. PIRG Executive Director [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.USPIRG.org
P.S. Thanks again for your support. Please feel free to share this e-mail with your family and friends.
