Subject: [EMMAS] PBS towing the corporate line Date: Sat, 28 Oct 2000 23:37:20 -0500 (CDT) From: Mediawatch MEDIA ACTION ALERT: Free Air Time on PBS: Not for All Candidates October 25, 2000 PBS has announced its plan to offer free air time to presidential candidates beginning tonight, October 25, and concluding on Friday, November 3. The candidates will get 2 and a half minutes at the end of the "News Hour with Jim Lehrer" to address viewers directly, but the offer is not open to all the candidates: The PBS proposal provides four nights for Al Gore, and four for George W. Bush. This narrowing of the debate to the major parties continues the exclusionary spirit of this year's presidential debates, organized by the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) and moderated by NewsHour host Jim Lehrer. The CPD, a creation of the two major parties, devised debate rules that were intended to keep viable third-party candidates out of the process. For whatever reason, PBS and its flagship newscast have decided to do the same. The air time proposal is essentially the same as the one being offered by the commercial networks. Ironically, eight nights would give PBS a chance to offer time to virtually all the major and viable minor party candidates. ACTION: Contact PBS and "The News Hour with Jim Lehrer" and let them know that free air time should be extended to all viable candidates. Point out that because of the exclusionary policies of the Commission on Presidential Debates, Gore and Bush have already received plenty of free air time. Encourage PBS to re-consider its proposal while there is still time. Sign Petition: PBS Should Also Extend Airtime To Nader. CONTACT: Sandra Heberer, Director, News and Information Programming, PBS sheberer@pbs.org fax: 703-739-5295 The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer 3620 South 27th St., Arlington, VA 22206 Phone: 703-998-2150 newshour@pbs.org ----------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from Media Watch Alerts just send an email to: mwatch@cruzio.com with remove in subject line. Thank You! Media Watch: Challenging racism, sexism and violence in the media through education and action! PO Box 618 Santa Cruz, CA 95061-0618 831-423-6355 http://www.mediawatch.com/