Broadcast attorney David Oxenford reminds broadcasters who have on-air employees who decide to run for office that they must give competing candidates equal opportunity to be on the air whenever their employee’s recognizable voice or picture appears on the air.
Oxenford says that’s the rule even if the personality never mentions his or her candidacy on the air, and even if they appear in what is otherwise an exempt program. “A newscaster who runs for office triggers equal time when he delivers the news even though a candidate’s appearance as a subject of that news program would be exempt.”
Check out Oxenford’s latest blog on this very timely and important topic HERE.
