Post-Newsweek Stations Offer Free Airtime to Candidates for Upcoming 2010 Elections

Published on Monday, 28 June 2010 08:19 Written by TradersHuddle Staff

TELEVISION STATIONS ANNOUNCE LAUNCH OF COMMUNITY-FOCUSED ELECTION INITIATIVES

DETROIT, June 28 /PRNewswire/ -- POST-NEWSWEEK STATIONS, in preparation for the 2010 elections, have announced plans to make free airtime available to candidates on its six broadcast television stations across the country.  Post-Newsweek Stations are located in the key battlegrounds states of Florida, Texas and Michigan.  In each of these states there are important gubernatorial and congressional races that will be decided by voters in the 2010 elections.

"Post-Newsweek Stations have a long-standing commitment to providing comprehensive election coverage in the communities we serve.  The upcoming elections will change the shape of government, both on the local level and across the nation," said Alan Frank, President, Post-Newsweek Stations, Inc.  "Our responsibility as news and public affairs leaders is to ensure that candidates and voters have a platform for rigorous public discourse. Our goal is to bring the two sides together so that voters can make the most informed decisions."  

The focal point of Post-Newsweek Stations' election coverage will be to facilitate straight forward communication between voters and candidates through a variety of innovative on-air and online initiatives.  The key elements are as follows:

• In a continuation of the television group's ground-breaking program, Post-Newsweek Stations will offer Free Airtime and Free Web Time opportunities to candidates in the 30 days preceding the general elections.  The Free Airtime will give candidates a unique ability to directly address viewers and describe why voters should cast their vote for them.  
• Each station will devote at least ten minutes per week day to locally produced political news coverage during this political season.  The coverage will continue throughout the entire broadcast day from the all-important early morning news to the early evening and late newscasts.
• Stations will look for opportunities allowing candidates to participate in On-air Debates and community-driven Town Hall Meetings televised on the stations during key time-periods and live-streamed video on the station's websites.
• Internet sites operated by Post-Newsweek Stations will feature comprehensive election related material with a high-profile political section featuring candidate biographies, political blogs and streaming video.
• Public service announcements encouraging voting participation in the election will be given priority clearance in each station's inventory of public service announcements throughout the election season.  

Post-Newsweek Stations' 2010 election coverage will also include a variety of unique political features in newscasts, special public affairs programming and interactive content on station websites.  These special initiatives are designed to help gauge the views and opinions of voters on important issues in their communities.  These features may include:

• Voter's Voice, allowing viewers to ask questions directly to candidates through the stations.
• Voter Video Patrol, giving cameras to voters to take into their neighborhoods and document issues facing their communities to show candidates what voters are concerned about.
• Ad Watch and Truth Test, checking the facts on political ad claims.
• Candidate Comparisons, comparing candidates' history and political positions side by side.
• The Ultimate Voter Guide, a step-by-step complete resource guide designed to help voters sort through their ballot type, operation of their voting machine, and information regarding their polling location.  

In the 2008 elections, over 150 candidates participated in Post-Newsweek Stations program offering free airtime on the group's broadcast stations across the country.

Post-Newsweek Stations is owned by The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO), a diversified education and media company.  Post-Newsweek Stations owns and operates six television stations:  WDIV, the NBC affiliate in Detroit; KPRC, the NBC affiliate in Houston; WPLG, the ABC affiliate in Miami; WKMG, the CBS affiliate in Orlando; KSAT, the ABC affiliate in San Antonio; and WJXT, an independent in Jacksonville.   Post-Newsweek also has ownership interests in LATV Networks and Internet Broadcasting (IB).

SOURCE Post-Newsweek Stations, Inc.