On Tuesday, August 8, voters in Michigan will participate in primary elections across the state and the country (find out where you vote). As has been the case with election coverage in the corporate media for the past several years, the local coverage of the elections and the candidates running has been dismal and while Media Mouse can of course in no way compensate for the corporate media’s failing to inform the public about the candidates and their positions, Media Mouse has tried to not only attend public candidate forums—but unlike the corporate media (in two cases [1, 2] attending a forum but failing to feature any candidate voices)—Media Mouse has tried to present as much of the candidates’ positions in our coverage as possible. Our election coverage over the past few weeks:

• Candidates Debate at 16th District Kent County Commission Forum
• Area Candidates Respond to Questionnaire on Democracy Issues
• Candidates Debate at 75th District Michigan House of Representatives Forum
• 28th Michigan Senate District Republican Primary Candidate Forum
• Clean Water Action Releases “Legislative Scorecard” Evaluating Michigan Legislators’ Commitment to the Environment
• Candidates Debate at Forum for 14th District Kent County Commissioner Seat
• Candidate Forum for the August 8 Kent County Circuit Court Race

The corporate media, while generally failing to provide adequate election coverage in advance of the primary, has placed some election resources online:

• WOOD TV 8’s Michigan House of Representatives Questionnaire
• WOOD TV 8's Michigan Senate Questionnaire
• WZZM 13’s Online Voter’s Guide
• The Grand Rapids Press’ Voters Guide

Of course, when the news media places “extended” coverage online and in some cases is actively promoting their websites instead of covering elections on television, one has to ask if this is the most efficient way to inform the public about elections. Moreover, the Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy’s (GRIID) Election Watch 2006 has documented that election coverage this year, as in years past, has been inadequate and fails to meet the community standards for election coverage that GRIID and other groups came up with as part of its efforts to hold the broadcast media accountable to its Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requirements of serving the public interest. These standards are reprinted here as it provides a valuable exercise in understanding how the corporate media’s election coverage has failed and how—if elections were covered adequately—the results of elections would change:

1. Provide substantive coverage about all candidates - where they stand on issues and voting records if they have held office previously.
2. Local elections should be treated with the same importance and respect that Presidential, Congressional and Gubernatorial races. People can get information about nationwide races in other mediums, but they can only get information about local elections/candidates on local news outlets.
3. Provide viewers/voters with relevant information about campaign finances/campaign contributions - how much, from whom and how it was spent.
4. Inform voters when election related forums will be held or broadcast in viewer area.
5. Cover all candidates and political parties, regardless of where they are in the polls or their "viability."
6. Minimize or eliminate polling data for the 2 weeks prior to an election, as it is not always reliable and can be misleading to voters.
7. When reporting on local elections/candidates provide follow-up coverage, much in the same way that crime stories are reported.
8. Provide free & equal airtime to all political candidates. Candidates running for the same office should be placed on air consecutively with opponents. This free airtime should be broadcast during times that are accessible to the largest percentage of viewers. Broadcast local candidate debates.
9. Inform viewers as to the amount of money your station is making on paid political ads and the source of those funds. Also, encourage your parent company to lobby for the Free Airtime Campaign, which will eventually eliminate paid political ads. http://www.bettercampaigns.org/.

Lastly, while Media Mouse encourages people to vote in Tuesday’s primary and other elections, it is important to remember that voting is just one tactic of many that can be used in achieving social change. Media Mouse strongly encourages people to engage in more empowering forms of political activity (in addition to voting) by becoming actively being involved in progressive organizations working for social change and avoiding the trap of simply asking for politicians to make change when they—in solidarity with others—can demand change collectively. For organizations working for social change in West Michigan, visit the Progressive Directory of Western Michigan website.