Post-Newsweek Stations Offer Free Airtime to Candidates for Upcoming 2012 Elections

Post-Newsweek Stations Offer Free Airtime to Candidates for Upcoming 2012 Elections

Television Stations Announce Launch of On-air and Online Election Initiatives

DETROIT, Nov. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- POST-NEWSWEEK STATIONS, in preparation for the 2012 elections, have announced plans to make free airtime available to candidates on its six broadcast television stations across the country. Post-Newsweek Stations are located in the key battlegrounds states of Florida, Texas and Michigan. In addition to the presidential race, each of these states has important senatorial and congressional races that will be decided by voters in the 2012 elections.

"Post-Newsweek Stations have a long-standing history of providing comprehensive election coverage in the communities we serve," said Alan Frank, President, Post-Newsweek Stations, Inc. "The 2012 elections are of critical importance, both locally and nationally. Our responsibility as news and public affairs leaders is to ensure that candidates and voters have a platform for rigorous public discussion and debate. We are committed to using our entire station resources, both on-air and online, to engage our viewers throughout the election process and to provide the information and context necessary to help them make the most informed decisions."

The focal point of Post-Newsweek Stations' election coverage will be to facilitate open and honest communication between candidates and voters through a variety of innovative on-air and online initiatives. The key elements are as follows:

-- Public service announcements encouraging voting participation in the
election will be given priority clearance in each station's inventory of
public service announcements throughout the election season.
-- Internet sites operated by Post-Newsweek Stations will feature
comprehensive election related material with a high-profile political
section featuring candidate biographies, political blogs, streaming
video and The Ultimate Voter Guide.
-- Stations will look for opportunities allowing candidates to participate
in On-air Debates and community-driven Town Hall Meetings televised on
the stations during key time-periods and live-streamed video on the
stations' websites.
-- Each station will devote at least ten minutes per weekday to locally
produced political news coverage during the political season. The
coverage will continue throughout the entire broadcast day from the
all-important early morning news to the early evening and late
newscasts.
-- In a continuation of the television group's ground-breaking program,
Post-Newsweek Stations will offer Free Airtime and Free Web Time
opportunities to candidates in the 30 days preceding the general
elections. The Free Airtime will give candidates a unique ability to
directly address and describe why voters should cast their vote for
them.
Post-Newsweek Stations' 2012 election coverage will also include a variety of unique political features in newscasts, special public affairs programming and interactive content on station websites. These special initiatives are designed to help gauge the views and opinions of voters on important issues in their communities. These features include:

-- Candidate Comparisons, comparing candidates' history and political
positions side by side.
-- Ad Watch and Truth Test, checking the facts on political ad claims.
-- Voter Video Patrol, giving cameras to voters to take into their
neighborhoods and document issues facing their communities to show
candidates what voters are concerned about.
-- Voter's Voice, allowing viewers to ask questions directly to candidates
through the stations.
In the 2012 elections, over 150 candidates participated in Post-Newsweek Stations' program offering free airtime on the group's broadcast stations across the country.

Post-Newsweek Stations is owned by The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO), a diversified education and media company. Post-Newsweek Stations owns and operates six television stations and websites: WDIV, the NBC affiliate in Detroit and www.clickondetroit.com; KPRC, the NBC affiliate in Houston and www.click2houston.com; WPLG, the ABC affiliate in Miami and www.local10.com; WKMG, the CBS affiliate in Orlando and www.clickorlando.com; KSAT, the ABC affiliate in San Antonio and www.ksat.com; and WJXT, an independent in Jacksonville and www.news4jax.com. Post-Newsweek also has ownership interests in LATV Networks and Internet Broadcasting (IB).

SOURCE Post-Newsweek Stations, Inc.

Post-Newsweek Stations, Inc.

CONTACT: Alan Frank, +1-313-223-2260

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