>> THIS IS AN EDITORIAL, SPEAKING IS PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER JOHN HUMPHRIES. >> YOU’VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT COMMITMENT 2020. THE COMMITMENT IS OUR PLEDGE TO GIVE YOU COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CANDIDATES AND THE ISSUES IN OUR NEWSCAST. AS THE SEASON WRAPS UP, YOU WILL SEE A LOT OF POLITICAL ADS. SOME OF THESE ADS MAY HAVE WHAT YOU BELIEVE ARE FALSE CLAIMS IN THEM. ACCORDING TO THE FCC, TO RECOGNIZE THE VITAL ROLE THAT BROADCASTING PLACE IN THE PROCESS, THE COMMUNICATIONS ACT IMPOSES OBLIGATIONS ON BROADCASTERS REGARDING POLITICAL ADVERTISING. THAT MEANS STATIONS LIKE WYFF MUST ALLOW CANDIDATES REASONABLE ACCESS TO AIR ADS THROUGH THE CAMPAIGNS. THE COMMUNICATIONS ASKS PREVENTS US FROM CENSORING ADS ARE REFUSING TO AIR THOSE ADS, EVEN IF THE AD HAS FALSE CLAIMS. WE ARE REQUIRED TO AIR THE COMMERCIALS AND WE CANNOT CENSOR THEM. UNLIKE OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS LIKE CABLE TV, THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT SET OF RULES AND CAN OPT OUT OF AIRING CERTAIN ADS. YOU CAN DEPEND ON US TO PROVIDE CONTEXT HELP YOU UNDERSTAND THE ADS. THAT IS SOMETHING WE DO FROM ALL SIDES OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM. GIVING VIEWERS INFORMATION THEY NEED AS THEY CONSIDER THE CANDIDATES IS ONE OF THE BASIC RESPONSIBILITIES OF LOCAL BROADCAST TELEVISION.
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Opinion
Editorial: Political Ads 2020
You can depend on WYFF News 4 to provide context and help you understand campaign ads from all sides of the political spectrum.
Updated: 5:31 PM EDT Jul 31, 2020
Over the past few months, you have heard a lot about Commitment 2020 here on WYFF News 4.The commitment is our pledge to give you, the voter, complete coverage of candidates and the issues in our newscasts every day.According to the Federal Communications Commission to recognize the vital role that broadcasting plays in the electoral process, the communications act imposes specific obligations on broadcasters regarding political advertising.That means commercial broadcast stations, like WYFF4 must allow legally qualified candidates for federal offices reasonable access to air political ads throughout their campaigns. As the election season ramps up, you will see a lot of political ads air on WYFF4 and other local stations. Some of these ads may have what you believe are false claims in them.The Communications Act prohibits broadcast stations from censoring ads or refusing to air those ads even if a candidate’s political ad has false claims.Bottom line, we are required to air the commercials of candidates for federal office and we cannot censor them.Unlike other media outlets, such as national cable tv networks, who have a different set of rules and can opt out of airing some political ads. You can depend on WYFF News 4 to provide context and help you understand these ads in segments like Get the Facts, something we do for ads from all sides of the political spectrum.We believe giving viewers information they need as they consider the candidates is one of the basic responsibilities of a local broadcast television station.
Over the past few months, you have heard a lot about Commitment 2020 here on WYFF News 4.
The commitment is our pledge to give you, the voter, complete coverage of candidates and the issues in our newscasts every day.
According to the Federal Communications Commission to recognize the vital role that broadcasting plays in the electoral process, the communications act imposes specific obligations on broadcasters regarding political advertising.
That means commercial broadcast stations, like WYFF4 must allow legally qualified candidates for federal offices reasonable access to air political ads throughout their campaigns.
As the election season ramps up, you will see a lot of political ads air on WYFF4 and other local stations.
Some of these ads may have what you believe are false claims in them.
The Communications Act prohibits broadcast stations from censoring ads or refusing to air those ads even if a candidate’s political ad has false claims.
Bottom line, we are required to air the commercials of candidates for federal office and we cannot censor them.
Unlike other media outlets, such as national cable tv networks, who have a different set of rules and can opt out of airing some political ads.
You can depend on WYFF News 4 to provide context and help you understand these ads in segments like Get the Facts, something we do for ads from all sides of the political spectrum.
We believe giving viewers information they need as they consider the candidates is one of the basic responsibilities of a local broadcast television station.
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