Politics and local television news stations do not usually go together. Some people look to CNN, Fox News Channel or the “Daily Show with Jon Stewart” for the daily occurrences in Washington D.C. To some people, the local news stations are for shootings, weather and local sports.

A panel of six experts, ranging from Sacramento State professors to local news directors, spoke at a recorded forum on March 9.

Barbara O’Connor, a Sac State professor from the Communications Studies Department and the director of the Institute for the Study of Politics and the Media, moderated the event, “What Are Television Broadcasters Doing to Inform Local Voters?”

Bruno Cohen, the general manager of Channel 13, said, “In order for us to be an independent community, we need engagement from the citizens.”

“In many ways, covering government has become much more difficult in recent years,” said Dan Weiser, the news director of Channel 3. “Especially with spin all around the place.” ?” spin is a term used when facts are turned in so many directions to benefit a particular political party or person.

“It’s harder to get profiles and interviews with candidates, just because we’re the local news stations,” Weiser said. “The news media has become the enemy.”

“A normal human being doesn’t look for political news,” said Stan Statham, president of the California Broadcasters Association. “Broadcast stations have the task to make the life of (House Democratic Leader) Nancy Pelosi as appealing as Paris Hilton’s.”

Kimberly Nalder, a professor with the government department, said local television is the most used medium for local information. The most common information on the local news stations is the weather, traffic accidents and car chases. She also said newspapers, cable and satellite news stations, and the Internet all have the same barrier ?” they all cost money to use.

Nalder said the average runtime of political information on the local news programs was about 90 seconds long. The result is elected officials do not have to rely on local television news. The consequence is people do not have the information and do not vote.

“This is the reason why on the ballot, voters don’t have information on who the candidates for superintendent or judges are, or what certain measures cover,” Nalder said.

Kathay Feng, executive director of California Common Cause, said people do not vote because they are intimidated by all of the information on the ballot.

“Television stations have an obligation to rethink what they air on the news,” Feng said. “They are using public airwaves to send out news to the citizens, and they need to prioritize.”

Ron Cooper, executive director of Access Sacramento, said local news stations need to pay more attention to the citizens who do not speak English.

The panel continued to ask each other questions about the amount of politics on the local news stations.

Weiser said the network has the broadcast schedule. “The local area doesn’t have any control over how much time they can air political news,” he said.

After the panel answered questions from the audience, the audience and the panel moved into four discussion groups for the rest of the event.

The initial turnout was low; only about 40 people came to the 3-hour event.

O’Connor said the probable reason was the fact that it was the Thursday before spring break. She does expect a much bigger turnout when the forum will be aired on Access Sacramento at 9 p.m. on Friday, March 24 and at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 25.

Access Sacramento is on Channel 17 for Comcast and SureWest cable customers.

Jamie Gonzales can be reached at [email protected]