This release is good news for Channel 4 and its political analyst Jon Keller, who will moderate the debates. And it puts another nail in the coffin of the so-called "media consortium" that was just beginning to organize to plan gubernatorial debates and their coverage. Instead, Channel 4 freelanced with its own debate schedule, whiich is certain to provoke sniping from the city's other media outlets.
"We felt we wanted to start something different," Keller told Media Log. "We're in a mode, as a station, where we are putting a lot of emphasis on campaign coverage...and have the freedom to experiment that you don't necessarily have as a member of a consortium." Translation:
We don't need no stinkin' consortium.
Boston - June 15, 2006 - Today, CBS4 News
announced plans for an extensive series of political debates as candidates
approach the final stretch of Campaign 2006. Continuing to provide the region’s
top political coverage, CBS4 will produce the final scheduled debate in the
Democratic primary race for governor on Wednesday, September 13 from 7:00 p.m.
to 8:00 p.m.
Then in November, Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, the
Republican party's unopposed candidate for governor, has agreed to participate
in the final pre-election debate on Wednesday, November 1, from 7:00 p.m. to
8:00 p.m., to be broadcast live from the CBS4 studios. All candidates legally
qualified for the ballot will be included in the debate, which will be made
available statewide on TV and radio.
Debates are also planned in the Democratic
primary for lieutenant governor and the Republican US Senate primary, along with
final election debates for lieutenant governor and attorney general.
"Viewers and voters consistently tell us that
televised debates are one of the most important ways they learn information
about the candidates running for public office," said Jennifer Street, CBS4 News
Director. "CBS4 News has a long history of producing some of the most memorable
local political debates, and we are proud to continue that tradition during this
crucial campaign season."
The debates are part of comprehensive Campaign
Team coverage at CBS4, which includes in-depth coverage of daily political news,
reporting and one-on-one interviews by political analyst Jon Keller, expert
analysis from senior correspondent John Henning, truth-testing of political ads
and skeptical review of campaign statements by Keller's
"Spin-O-Meter."