The Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy (GRIID) has released data on the local broadcast media’s coverage of the fall 2005 elections. The data, covering the period of October 10 to November 7, reveals that election coverage was inadequate once again. According to GRIID’s analysis, coverage of local candidates was “limited to a few issues and generally included little information as to past voting records, organizational endorsements, or sources of funding” and on-air statements by candidates lacked specifics. Interestingly, all three broadcast channels reported more on crime than they did on the election and all ran stories about the low projected turnout for the election.
In response to the lack of substantive election coverage, GRIID issued a media alert today and is asking people to contact the local broadcast media and ask that they improve their election coverage and implement the “Community Standards for Election Coverage” developed by GRIID during its Federal Communications Commission (FCC) license renewal campaign.
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