INTRODUCTION:

PBS Hawai‘i recognizes that a healthy democracy relies on citizens who are informed and engaged in the work of our national, state, and local governments. As part of our public service mission, PBS Hawai‘i presents political coverage, candidate forums, and public issue discussions to educate and inform Hawai‘i residents.

This policy outlines the standards and practices that guide PBS Hawai‘i’s political programming. It is publicly available in our online public file and on our website to ensure transparency for candidates, campaigns, and the community.

PBS Hawai‘i management and producers make programming decisions based on this policy, station resources, and our mission. PBS Hawai‘i maintains full editorial control over all content.

LEGAL OBLIGATIONS:

PBS Hawai‘i follows all Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules and regulations governing political coverage, including equal‑time requirements, and complies with all applicable federal court rulings.

Federal law and FCC rules provide broadcasters with broad editorial discretion, including in sponsored political debates. The U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed that broadcasters may exclude candidates of limited public appeal from debates when decisions are reasonable, viewpoint‑neutral, and based on established policy (Arkansas Educational Television Commission v. Forbes, 118 S. Ct. 1633).

While PBS Hawai‘i acknowledges this authority, our practice is to be inclusive whenever possible and to provide voters with meaningful opportunities to hear from candidates.

SELECTION OF CANDIDATE FORUMS:

PBS Hawai‘i’s goal is to inform voters responsibly and effectively. Because station financial, technical, and editorial resources are limited, PBS Hawai‘i determines which contested races to cover based on:

• News value and public interest
• Statewide or community impact
• Availability of airtime and production capacity
• The ability to produce a high‑quality, fair, and informative program

Decisions regarding which races to feature, and the format of those programs, are made at the sole discretion of PBS Hawai‘i management and producers.

SELECTION OF CANDIDATES:

To be considered for participation in PBS Hawai‘i‑produced political programming, a candidate must:

1. Be legally qualified under federal and state law, and
2. Be certified by the State of Hawai‘i Office of Elections to appear on the ballot for that office.

PBS Hawai‘i may also apply good‑faith journalistic judgment to ensure a forum that best serves the public interest. Factors may include:

• Demonstrated campaign activity
• Public visibility and engagement
• Ability to participate meaningfully in a live discussion
• Compliance with deadlines, rules, and communication requirements

These criteria are applied in a viewpoint‑neutral manner.

CONTENT OF FORUMS – PARTNERS:

When PBS Hawai‘i is the sole producer of a political forum, this policy governs all decisions regarding content and format.

When PBS Hawai‘i partners with other organizations, all partners must agree to follow this policy. Partners may advise on format, dates, or procedures, but PBS Hawai‘i retains full editorial control. Partnership agreements will outline roles, responsibilities, and distribution rights. Unless otherwise stated, PBS Hawai‘i is the sole copyright owner of the program.

PBS Hawai‘i will develop an agreement outlining the duties and responsibilities of the partners, as well as the distribution rights pertaining to the content. In general, and unless otherwise provided in the agreement, PBS Hawai‘i shall be the sole copyright owner of the political programming.

RIGHTS TO THE CONTENT – DIGITAL & DISTRIBUTION (PARTNERS & CANDIDATES):

PBS Hawai‘i owns all rights to political programming it produces, including broadcast, streaming, digital, archival, and reproduction rights.

Partners and candidates may share or present the program only in its entirety with proper credit to PBS Hawai‘i. Excerpting, editing, or repurposing any portion of the program, including for promotional, campaign, advertising, or social media use, is strictly prohibited.

PBS Hawai‘i reserves the right to issue takedown notices or pursue other remedies for unauthorized use of its content on any platform.

OTHER ITEMS:

PBS Hawai‘i reviews this policy periodically to ensure it remains aligned with current law, best practices, and the needs of Hawai‘i’s communities. PBS Hawai‘i may modify this policy as necessary.

This policy does not limit the type or amount of political programming PBS Hawai‘i may produce. PBS Hawai‘i may distribute political content across any of its media platforms, including broadcast, digital channels, websites, livestreams, podcasts, and other emerging technologies.

Frequently Asked Questions for Candidates & Campaigns

What is PBS Hawai‘i’s role in election coverage?

PBS Hawai‘i provides political programming, candidate forums, and public issue discussions as part of our mission to inform Hawai‘i residents. We maintain full editorial control over all content.

How does PBS Hawai‘i decide which races to feature?

Because airtime and production resources are limited, PBS Hawai‘i selects races based on:

• News value and public interest
• Statewide or community impact
• Production capacity and scheduling
• The ability to produce a fair, informative program

These decisions are made by PBS Hawai‘i management and producers.

Who is eligible to participate in a PBS Hawai‘i forum?

A candidate must:

1. Be legally qualified under federal and state law, and
2. Be certified by the State of Hawai‘i Office of Elections to appear on the ballot.

PBS Hawai‘i may also apply good‑faith journalistic criteria such as:

• Demonstrated campaign activity
• Public visibility
• Ability to participate meaningfully in a live discussion
• Meeting deadlines and communication requirements

Does PBS Hawai‘i follow FCC “equal time” rules?

Yes. PBS Hawai‘i complies with all FCC rules and federal court decisions related to political programming.

Can candidates influence the format or questions?

No. PBS Hawai‘i maintains full editorial control over format, topics, and questions. Candidates may receive logistical information, but not editorial content.

Can candidates request specific moderators or panelists?

No. Moderator and panelist selection is an editorial decision made by PBS Hawai‘i.

Can candidates use footage from the forum in campaign ads or social media?

No. Candidates and campaigns may not:

• Edit, excerpt, or repurpose any portion of the program
• Use footage in campaign advertising
• Post clips on social media

Campaigns may:

• Share links to the full, unedited program with proper credit to PBS Hawai‘i

PBS Hawai‘i may issue takedown notices for unauthorized use.

Will PBS Hawai‘i provide raw footage or isolated camera feeds?

No

Can candidates bring supporters or staff into the studio?

Space is limited. PBS Hawai‘i will provide guidance for each production.

What happens if a candidate declines to participate?

We invite all viable candidates and make an equal effort to encourage each to attend. To meet our editorial purpose, at least two candidates must be present. In a two‑candidate race, if only one agrees to participate, we will not hold the forum because a one‑on‑one conversation does not meet our standard for a candidate forum. If someone commits to participate but does not show, the forum will proceed with those present, and PBS Hawai‘i will note the absence on air.

Who can I contact with questions?

Campaigns may email Chuck Parker at: [email protected]