Update on Medina petition for WFAA Debate

1,650 signatures
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=info&gid=286146581281

Thank you for taking the time to write us concerning the upcoming Texas Gubernatorial debate.

The selection process for inviting candidates to participate in debates on WFAA and other Belo Corp. television stations is based largely on materials from the Federal Communications Commission and other authorities.

The criteria for participation includes whether a candidate: receives significant levels of public support in independent public opinion polls, e.g.15 percent, which is the minimum used by the Commission on Presidential Debates; has received substantial campaign contributions from varied sources; has previously held significant public office(s); has received a substantial level of votes in prior elections for the same or comparable office(s); will be reported by news agencies in election night returns; and, has received significant news coverage from a wide range of media outlets.

The FCC and other bodies grant stations the right to exercise good faith news judgment in determining which candidates are invited to participate in televised debates, and to use reasonable news judgment in reaching such decisions, with the intent to neither promote a candidate nor create a disadvantage for a candidate.

We are grateful that you would take the time to write and share your comments.

Stephanie Wilcox Director of Community Marketing WFAA-TV Channel 8
606 Young St., Dallas, TX 75202
P: 214.977.6442 F: 214.977.6394 swilcox@wfaa.com

Perry and Hutchison are scheduled to debate again Jan. 29 in Dallas. That debate’s sponsor, Belo Corp., should add Medina.
http://www.star-telegram.com/editorials/story/1897522.html

... scratches head, bumps thread

Dear Ms. Tinsley,

Here is a suggestion for your next story. Contact Gov. Rick Perry and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. Ask them the question below, but warn them that you want to publish their response verbatim. Their answers will tell Texans what they think of them and the democratic process. The question is: Would you ask Belo to invite Debra Medina to participate in the January 29 debate?

Sincerely,

... to which I responded:

Do something unique. Ask Rick Perry and Kay Hutchison if they want to exclude Debra Medina. Tell them you will publish their response. Let them decide. The public deserves to know how much respect they have for the democratic process and the people of Texas.

Sincerely,

Maybe those with pull in the Texas media could persuade a journalist to approach Perry and Hutchison for their opinion about Debra's exclusion and turn it into a big story.

1,469 .... Come on cant we do better than that? Get the word out.

The emiller@dallasnews.com came back..

for Liberty*))

Go Deb!!

petition signed and emails sent... Thanks for the post GO MEDINA!

so far

You need one that reads "Boycott BELO"
Watch it start to catch on. I'll invite thousands to that group if someone from TX posts it.

bump!