October 10, 2000
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FOUR ILLINOIS TV STATIONS PLEDGE TO INCREASE CANDIDATE AND ISSUE COVERAGE IN THE MONTH BEFORE THE GENERAL ELECTION

CHICAGO - Four Illinois television stations have pledged to air at least five minutes of candidate discourse in the 30 nights before voters go to the polls.

The four television stations - WGEM in Quincy, WSIL in Carterville and Chicago stations WBBM, WMAQ and WCPX - have agreed to the proposal put forward by a 1998 White House panel of broadcasters and public interest advocates.

A few other stations serving Illinois have said they will expand coverage of candidates but will not meet the 5/30 recommendation. However, the majority of stations apparently will not even attempt to air just five minutes of candidate-centered discourse in the 30 nights before the election.

"For more than a year, we’ve pleaded our case with Illinois broadcast executives and encouraged viewers to contact television station managers," said former U.S. Senator Paul Simon, who chairs the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform (ICPR). "It has been estimated that the television industry nationwide will receive up to $1 billion in ad revenue from political commercials this year, and we think those same stations have an obligation to contribute to the public’s understanding of the issues and the candidates on the ballot.

"The owners and the managers of four Illinois stations understand the influence of television and have stepped forward to serve the public’s interest," Simon said. "Viewers of those stations should benefit from five minutes of substance - the candidates talking about issues in stump speeches, issue forums, interviews or mini-debates. Unfortunately, many other stations have not responded to the request or have offered excuses."

In addition to the four stations that intend to meet the 5/30 recommendation, WCPX in Chicago has agreed to rebroadcast segments produced by NBC. Five other stations have said they will follow an alternate approach to expanding candidate-centered coverage. Those stations are WGN in Chicago, WEEK in Peoria, WCJT in Mt. Carmel, WTVO in Rockford and WTHI in Terre Haute, Indiana.

ICPR’s web site (www.ilcampaign.org) has a complete list of Illinois television stations and their responses to a letter from Simon last month and to a survey before the primary election.

"Earlier this year, more than 200 prominent leaders and organizations, including the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, called on stations to meet the 5/30 recommendation and help take campaigns beyond money and ads - and to begin to re-engage citizens to their democracy," said Cindi Canary, Director of the ICPR. "It seems the vast majority of television stations are content with the status quo of big-money, big-ad politics."

ICPR is assisting the Alliance for Better Campaigns, which is leading the national effort for the 5/30 proposal. The Alliance is chaired by former television anchorman Walter Cronkite and former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford.

A total of 94 stations nationwide have said they will try to meet the standard this fall. Academic researchers and civic groups will monitor how much candidate discourse is carried on local stations in the major markets.