For Immediate Release
Contact: Kristin Tutino, (585) 258-0253

Rochester, New York (October 25, 2006) – WXXI’s Candidate Free Airtime, airing Sunday, October 29 at 12:30 p.m. and Sunday, November 5 at 12:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV 21 (cable 11), gives political candidates the unique opportunity to share with the greater Rochester community their political positions. The first of the three parts of the television broadcast aired on WXXI-TV 21 (cable 11) on Sunday, October 22. Part 1 through Part 3 will also air consecutively on City 12, cable channel 12 for City residents, on Sunday, October 29 at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, November 4 at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday, November 5 at 10:30 a.m. These 30-minute programs feature 2-minute, unedited messages from selected candidates in the area who choose to participate. The programs feature New York State Senate and Assembly candidates, area Congressional candidates and candidates from a handful of open City and County races. Candidate Free Air Time statements from each candidate are posted at wxxi.org/election/cfat.html, as they are made available, and will also be posted as MP3 downloads beginning Monday, October 30.

Since 1998, WXXI has offered political candidates the opportunity to present the essence of their campaigns and stance on the issues. Candidates who were once silenced by the high price of commercial advertising have a chance to be heard. Each candidate gets two minutes of exposure in an unedited, one-on-one dialogue with voters.

Candidate Free Air Time has aired on AM 1370 during Morning Edition and All Things Considered throughout the week of October 23. Candidate Free Air Time is part of WXXI-TV’s and AM-1370’s special election coverage, which also includes Voice of the Voter (10/27), complete election night coverage (11/7) and a comprehensive election site at WXXI.org/election.

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WXXI is the essential, life-long educational media resource for the Greater Rochester area. WXXI puts the community first with programming that stimulates and expands thought, inspires the spirit, opens cultural horizons and promotes understanding of diverse community issues. Log on to wxxi.org for more information about our services and programs.

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