Balancing URTV'S Political Content

[GandL]

  The political coverage on URTV is overwhelmingly Republican. This is due to the hard work of the producers who cover local and regional events featuring Republican candidates running for state and local offices. I admire their efforts and the quality of their productions.
  However, I believe it will be the Presidential election that will determine the political composition of national, state, and local governmental entities.
   I also believe that human interest stories trump coverage of political events.
   I would like to suggest to the Producers who want to balance the political content at URTV that we start a series of visits to the local non Republican candidates' campaign offices as they open, concentrating on the office's of the Presidential candidates. The stories are in the mechanics of the offices and the personal stories of the volunteers and supporters.
  Multiple Producers recording the campaigns from inception to election could be of personal and historical value ........feed back hoped for and thanks given...GandL

 
 
 

[Ralph Roberts]

 

Balance is a good goal ... however, URTV is different from commercial TV in that -- as a public access station -- we show whatever producers bring in. Right now, the conservatives are working a lot harder than the progressives. ;-) This is somewhat of a surprise since everyone, as plans for the establishment of public access TV in Buncombe County were being formulated, feared that the liberals would dominate.

interesting how things work out.

as to the presidential election, it looks like the Democrats are pretty much shooting themselves in the feet as usual; I would not be surprised to see the Republicans win again.

anyway, I produce mostly nonpolitical stuff although I do help out Richard and some of the other true conservatives on occasion, and delighted to do so. Richard, Randy, Don Yelton, Kathy, etc. are all HARD workers -- that's why the progressives are being left in the dust. Public access rewards effort.

--Ralph

[Don Yelton]

   I told everyone that the Show Citizens Speak is just that a show were the citizens get to say what they think.  Yes I have had people go so far as to program a fax machine to tie up the lines.  Sounds like a fairness doctrine to me.

Freedom of speech is very important and that does mean that you may offend someone. Frankly I am looking for leaders not whinners.  I am looking for innovators and not duplicators... Why do you not step up to the plate and do a show that you feel has balance and go to the those offices and either by being one sided produce balance or produce what you call balance.

[GandL]

Ralph, Thank You for your response.
    I see that you concur with my opening paragraph:
   "The political coverage on URTV is overwhelmingly Republican. This is due to the hard work of the producers who cover local and regional events featuring Republican candidates running for state and local offices. I admire their efforts and the quality of their productions".
   I am not surprised to learn that you are involved in the shows given the quality of the production.
   However, I never mentioned the Democratic Party in my post. Non Republican doesn't equal Democrat and liberal and conservative are ideologies and not political parties.
  I don't know what part of my post you are responding to.
   I hope this thread does not degenerate into political snipping. I proposed a production technique and offered it to producers who wish to balance the political content on URTV.
   But thanks Ralph. You are an invaluable technical and teaching resource for URTV and the community.
 
  ......................GandL

[Ralph Roberts]

Thanks, GandL... and I was not disagreeing with you at all, merely trying to clarify.

Basically, public access producers are not required to present balanced shows and most do not want to -- they are interested in espousing their own cause. And, I think, this is good and perfectly acceptable in the public access world. It encourages those with opposing viewpoints to start producing. 

Speaking semi-officially as a board member, we DO want to make it possible for all viewpoints to be presented but it is not our responsibility to do so -- that falls on people interested enough to produce shows.

As to me, personally, I will be glad to assist and offer advice to ANYONE wanting to produce. That's what we are about.

URTV, it's a way of life. 

--Ralph