This page features material from the "Editorial Principles and Practices for Local Public Broadcasting" workshop sponsored by Best Practices in Journalism on March 30-31, 2004.
powerpoint presentations
The powerpoint material is intended to spark discussion on a variety
of topics:
- Fairness and Balance in Public Broadcasting
- Underwriter Influence and Licensee Interference
- Partnerships, Perceptions and Editorial Control
- Staff Issues and Conflicts of Interest
We hope these presentations are useful for you and your staff. Please
feel free to contact Dave Iverson at ()
if you'd like to further discuss how these materials can be used.
Is the person a legally qualified candidate as specified by the FCC?
Has the candidate articulated views on principal issues affecting the electorate? (We do not make judgments as to the importance of a candidates ideas, simply that they have expressed their views in a manner accessible to voters, such as written statements.)
Does the candidate show at least 5% support in independent polls of the electorate?
Is there an active campaign? Is there a campaign office, a staff, a phone number? In a major race, is there an office outside of the candidates home?
Is there funding apart from the candidates own resources?
Is there a discernible way of raising money?
Is there campaign literature?
Have other news organizations covered the candidates campaign?
It is also important when the debate occurs in a political cycle. For example, early in a campaign, before primaries have been held, there may be a number of active candidates, any one of whom could be a candidate in the general election. At this stage, a debate may well include some or all of these candidates in order to give citizens the broadest possible access as they form their views. However, later in the campaign, it may make sense to limit the number of candidates in a debate to those who will realistically determine the outcome of the election. At this later point, the greater service is giving citizens the most in-depth information possible.
News coverage
WPT news programs rely on the editorial judgment of our news staff. Coverage of election issues and candidates as part of our news programming (such as [the Friday-night public affairs show] WeekEnd) is determined using any, all, or none of the criteria above. It is expected that WPT staff be able to articulate the reasons and reasoning behind their decisions.
Equal access of federal candidates
WPT adheres strictly to the federal regulations in this regard. These regulations do not extend to any non-qualified candidates or races.
Public service programs
This is a genre of programming that is distinct and different from news or debates. Public service programs are distinguished by a lack of editorial or journalistic involvement. Candidates are simply provided with air time under varying guidelines of time and format. In presidential election years WPT will participate in presidential public service programs if they are included in the PBS schedule, but will not use non-PBS offers. For some statewide offices and Congressional seats WPT offers public service programs and will develop appropriate criteria. It is unlikely WPT will expand this to include local elections which are best covered locally.
