Only one TV station aired average of 5 min. of political news cov...

Only one TV station aired average of 5 min. of political news coverage per night in most recent campaign, and average of 74 stations surveyed was about 45 sec., survey by Annenberg School/Norman Lear Center reported. “Forty-five seconds is barely enough time to clear your throat,” said Martin Kaplan, dir. of Lear Center. Five min. per night was recommended by FCC Advisory Committee on Public Interest Obligations of DTV Bcstrs. Although stations typically didn’t meet that standard, study said those who committed to it came closer (2 min., 17 sec. per night) than those that didn’t. Study included all time devoted to all candidates for all races in late afternoon and evening newscasts.