BIG props to Channel 4 for the following announcement in their runup to the primary on Sept. 19 (from a press release that just came in):
Free Air Time – September 6-8 and September 12-15
In addition to CBS4s continuing series, including Keller At Large, CBS4 will offer the gubernatorial candidates free air time, beginning with all non-democrats on September 6 through September 8 in CBS4 News at 5PM. Democratic candidates will have the opportunity to use free air time between September 12 and 15 during CBS4 News at 5PM. Each candidate on the ballot will receive two minutes to express their views and speak to viewers about issues of their choice.
One of the best ways to level the playing field between moneyed and less-moneyed candidates is, IMHO, for broadcasters to offer free air time to the candidates. Personally, I’d be all in favor of this being mandated at the federal level, as I’ve written before. But failing that, we have to rely on the broadcasters themselves to do it.
So hurray for Channel 4 for taking that step. Let’s hope the other stations follow suit.
Thanks WBZ. I think the timing of the non Democrats is a bit odd, but that is minor. Thanks again.
To be fair, they’ve got to give an equal amount of air time at a similar time of day and time of year. So, they give the Dems the time slots right before the primary, and give the other candidates time slots before the primary so they can’t reference primary results.
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I’d love for them to do it in October and November as well.
But for now lets simply thank them for doing so. I encourge everyone to send them a quick email thanking them.
Let’s hope the other stations follow suit, and that they do it again closer to the general election.