FREE AIR TIME

March 2000
		Should television networks be required to give free air time to candidates for public office? Barbara Cochran, president of the Radio-Television News Directors Association, and Paul Taylor, executive director of the Alliance for Better Campaigns, answer your questions.

Forum introduction Are the networks going to continue to settle for quiz programs? Why should anyone have for nothing something which has value? Why not charge broadcasters a fee for use of the public airwaves, and give the money to the people? How about reducing the number of days per week so there could be a real debate every week or two? Will free air time lower the amount of spending, or will it just mean seeing more of the candidates on the air? Why not mandate a free broadcast channel that airs debates, campaign info, and election coverage?     Online Special: Election 2000 Feb. 22, 2000 Negative campaigning Feb. 1, 2000 The primary press Jan. 12, 2000 Special interest ads Oct. 19, 1999 Campaign finance reform voted down Browse the NewsHour's coverage of the media and politics and campaigns     Alliance for Better Campaigns Federal Communications Commission Radio-Television News Directors Association

Sound bites and attack ads are the way many voters learn about candidates for public office, including presidential candidates. Many debates among candidates are broadcast only on cable television, limiting the audience they receive. The nonpartisan Alliance for Better Campaigns wants to alter the learning curve on candidates. It has asked television stations to devote five minutes a night to candidate discourse in the month before a primary or general election. The voluntary plan was first proposed by the congressional Gore Commission, which studied the public service obligations of television stations. Only about 20 commercial stations have agreed to the plan. The Radio-Television News Directors Association says mandating free time violates First Amendment protections, and argues many stations are already providing free time. Some television executives also say viewers just aren't interested in that much political coverage. Some say candidates have declined offers of free air time. What do you think? Should television networks be required to give free air time to candidates for public office? Barbara Cochran, president of the Radio-Television News Directors Association, and Paul Taylor, executive director of the Alliance for Better Campaigns, answer your questions.