Editor's note: During election season broadcasters play an instrumental role in informing voters about the candidates running for office and the prominent political issues facing their local viewers and listeners. Broadcasters go to tremendous lengths to serve as a conduit between candidates and the electorate, offering free airtime to candidates seeking office. Despite such efforts, broadcasters' offers of free airtime are often rejected by candidates themselves who prefer not to risk the consequences of giving their opponent face-time on television or radio, and who fear the repercussions of an unscripted or 'inartful' moment broadcast live over-the-air. Below are but a few examples of station efforts during this campaign season.

All Eyes on Nevada Broadcasters in Reid, Angle Debate

On October 14, the Nevada Broadcasters Association and the Nevada Broadcasters Foundation produced the only debate between incumbent Senator Harry Reid and his challenger Sharron Angle, in the state's closely-watched U.S. Senate race. The Nevada Broadcasters Association also produced a second debate between gubernatorial candidates Rory Reid and Brian Sandoval. Both debates were underwritten entirely by the Association, and coverage was provided to all Nevada television and radio stations. Each debate garnered extensive news media attention, particularly the senatorial debate in which more than 100 reporters from the U.S., Japan, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany and France were credentialed.

Murray, Rossi Go Toe-to-Toe on KOMO-TV, NewsRadio

KOMO-AM and FM Newsradio and KOMO-TV Seattle invited incumbent Democratic Senator Patty Murray and her challenger Republican Dino Rossi to the station for a one-hour live debate on October 17. In addition to airing on radio and television, the full debate was archived on KOMO's website. Earlier in October, the senatorial candidates appeared in a televised debate broadcast by KXLY-TV Spokane.

Eight Great Debates: WDEL-AM Wilmington Steps Up

WDEL-AM Wilmington hosted eight political debates during the 2010 election cycle including a debate between senatorial candidates Christine O'Donnell and Chris Coons, who are running for Vice President Joe Biden's former seat. The station also archived audio and video content from the event on its website. The senatorial debate, which gained national attention, was part of WDEL's commitment to air 10 commercial-free hours of political coverage and increase voter awareness. Other debates hosted by the radio station included local races for Delaware’s District 1 U.S. House seat, attorney general, state auditor and treasurer, and New Castle county sheriff, among others.

Roanoke Stations Hosts Debate Featuring Boucher

WDBJ-TV Roanoke held a debate on October 26 featuring candidates running for Virginia’s 9th District U.S. Congressional seat. The incumbent Democratic Congressman Rick Boucher joined his opponent, Republican candidate Morgan Griffith in the WDBJ-TV studio for a live, hour-long debate, which also aired on WJHL-TV Tri-Cities, TN-VA.

WFTV-TV Orlando Spotlights Florida's Senate Race

WFTV-TV Orlando hosted an in-depth debate among candidates for the Sunshine State's open Senate seat on October 6. Airing from the station's studios in Orlando, the debate featured Governor Charlie Crist, Rep. Kendrick Meek and Republican candidate Marco Rubio. The debate, moderated by ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos, was viewed live by more than 334,000 potential voters in the top five Florida television markets. Following the debate, Stephanopoulos told WFTV-TV, "That was one of the feistiest -- and most illuminating -- debates I've ever been part of."

Radio Stations in Illinois, Indiana Focus on Campaigns

Four Cromwell Group radio stations in Indiana -- WEJT-FM, WYDS-FM, WZNX-FM and WZUS-FM -- hosted two political debates, one featuring candidates for the 101st District seat in the state House of Representatives, and the other for the 51st District seat in the state Senate. Full debate audio is available on the stations' website. Across the state line in Illinois, Matoon-area sister stations WMCI-FM, WWGO-FM and WCBH-FM launched a public service announcement campaign encouraging voter registration in the weeks leading up to the November 2 election. The stations also launched YourChoiceYourVoice.com, a website that provides election information for voters across the state.

Clear Channel Radio Chicago launched a $1 million public service campaign encouraging listeners to register and vote in the 2010 general election. WGCI-FM, WKSC-FM, WLIT-FM, WVAZ-FM, WNUA and WGRB-AM Chicago created a series of public awareness messages featuring station personalities and community leaders that provided listeners with information regarding the voter registration process and encouraged turnout on election day. The stations also developed a website, www.clearlyconnectedchicago.com, that offered polling information, voting procedures and other community resources.

Meanwhile, WXRX-FM, WRTB-FM, WGFB-FM and WNTA-AM – all in the Rockford, Illinois market, committed significant resources in order to serve the community during the 2010 election, including the designed a website, www.iVoteRockford.com, which aggregated election news and served as a definitive source of campaign coverage.

Pennsylvania Broadcasters Step Up to Political Plate

The Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters hosted a one-hour debate between the gubernatorial candidates on Saturday, October 16. Twenty-seven Pennsylvania television stations carried the debate either live or tape delayed. Pennsylvania Radio Network also distributed the debate feed to over 75 stations.

Two days later, WPVI-TV Philadelphia hosted a one-hour debate featuring the gubernatorial candidates, making the debate available to all TV stations in the state. The station also hosted a senatorial debate between candidates Joe Sestak and Pat Toomey on October 20. Meanwhile, Allentown's WFMZ-TV produced 13 debates throughout the 2010 campaign cycle, featuring candidates for governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, state Senate and state House of Representatives. The debates all aired during prime evening time slots.

WHTM-TV Harrisburg developed a series of one-minute profiles for more than 30 candidates running for statewide office, featuring the spotlight series during three separate newscasts. Like numerous stations across the country, the station also dedicated a section of the station's website to election materials including news articles, polls, links to candidates' websites, and more.

Would-be Senators Spar in WDSU New Orleans Debate

WDSU-TV New Orleans held a 60-minute senatorial debate featuring Republican incumbent Sen. David Vitter, his Democratic challenger U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, Independent candidates Mike Spears and Ernest Wooten, Libertarian candidate Randall Todd Hayes and Reform candidate William McShan on October 27. The commercial-free debate was filmed in the WDSU studio and moderated by WDSU’s anchor Norman Robin. The debate was also streamed live on WDSU.com.

KGW-TV Portland: Double Debates, Multicast Analysis

Following a September 30 debate between Oregon gubernatorial candidates John Kitzhaber and Chris Dudley, which drew a 5.1 rating/11 share in household live plus same-day viewing, KGW-TV Portland decided to provide viewers with a second helping, re-broadcasting the debate three days later. The one-hour debate, produced in partnership with The Oregonian, newspaper was made available to local TV and radio stations across the state through underwriting from the Oregon Association of Broadcasters.

Following the debate, KGW-TV used its newest digital multicast channel, KGW 24/7, to air a half-hour of in-depth debate analysis with political columnists and analysts, which was also streamed on kgw.com. Watch the station's promo and read the station's news release here.

Colorado Stations Feature Debates, Forums, Coverage

KUSA-TV Denver partnered with YouTube and The Denver Post to host a gubernatorial debate, featuring candidates John Hickenlooper, Tom Tancredo and Dan Maes, on October 15. The debate aired twice on KUSA-TV and was streamed live on YouTube. The local TV station also developed a Decision 2010 webpage that features a popular Truth Test page dedicated to analyzing the statements made in various political ads that run in the Denver market.

In Pueblo, KOAA-TV also produced several live election specials during campaign season including the Decision 2010 El Paso County Sheriff's Debate, the U.S. Senate debate featuring Michael Bennet and Ken Buck and a medical marijuana forum with District Attorney Dan May and City Councilman Sean Paige.

Volunteer State Viewers, Listeners Turn To Broadcast

Broadcasters across Tennessee were active during the 2010 campaign cycle airing several local debates and devoting coverage to several contested local, state and federal races. WVLT-TV Knoxville kicked off its election coverage efforts back on January 12 with a one-hour primary election debate between candidates seeking the state's executive office. Also in Knoxville, WATE-TV developed a news segment "The Truth Test" which analyzed and fact-checked candidates' political advertisements in mayoral, gubernatorial and congressional races.

WZTV-TV Nashville produced a 30 minute program, "Inside the Governor's Race," which profiled the four major gubernatorial candidates. Meanwhile, WTVF-TV Nashville hosted a Gubernatorial Forum on Education at Belmont University in January, and later aired two additional gubernatorial debates in the fall. In Memphis, WREG-TV hosted a gubernatorial debate from their studios.

Meanwhile, radio stations WJJM-AM and FM Lewisburg aired several interviews with local candidates running in the contested sheriff's race, as well as several state level candidates.

Wisconsin Stations Air Debate for Obey Successor

WSAW-TV Wausau, Wisc. hosted a U.S. Congressional debate on October 17, showcasing Democratic candidate Julie Lassa and Republican candidate Sean Duffy, who are vying for the 7th U.S. Congressional District seat held for 41 years by Rep. David Obey. John Laabs, President and CEO of the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Foundation moderated the live, hour-long debate which also aired on WEAU-TV Eau Claire, Wisconsin; KDLH-TV Duluth, Minnesota; and WJMC-AM and FM Radio in Rice Lake, Wisconsin.

Broadcast Stations on "Political Radar" of Hoosier Voters

This election season, WPTA-TV Fort Wayne, Ind. aired a weekly prime-access political show, "Political Radar," every Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. beginning September 8. The public affairs program featured Journal Gazette Editorial Page Editor Tracy Warner and the paper's Washington D.C. reporter Sylvia Smith, along with two political experts from both political parties. During the program, panelists discussed national, state and local political issues.

Meanwhile, WANE-TV Fort Wayne hosted a debate for candidates running in the 3rd Congressional District race, which aired live in prime time on October 12. In addition to hosting debates and airing special political news segments, WTHR-TV Indianapolis spent three weeks in September traveling to eight Indiana college campuses registering voters through the station's 'Show You Care and Vote' campaign.

Greenville Station Hosts House Debates

WYFF-TV Greenville, S.C. hosted two live, 30-minute debates between major party candidates for South Carolina's District 3 and District 4 seats in the U.S House of Representatives. The televised debates are part of the news station's Commitment 2010 effort to "devote extensive air time to candidates and issues prior to Election Day." Station news anchor Michael Cogdill moderated the debate, which also included questions submitted by the broadcast station's viewers.

50 Candidates Take Up KTTC-TV's Free Airtime Offer

In addition to airing daily coverage of federal, state and local candidates’ campaigns, KTTC-TV Rochester, Minn. developed a news segment, the “Decision 2010 Spotlight,” which provided free airtime to candidates in key races across Rochester. Fifty local candidates used the two minutes of live airtime to address constituents including candidates for U.S. Congress, governor, state Senate, state representative, sheriff, mayor, city council and the school board. Earlier in campaign cycle, KTTC-TV provided coverage of the Republican, Democratic-Farmer-Labor, and Independence Party State Conventions.

WJAR-TV Debuts New Technology During Debate

WJAR-TV Providence/Bedford, R.I. held a gubernatorial debate at Rhode Island College on October 29, 2010, which brought together Democratic candidate Frank Caprio, his Republican opponent John Robitaille and Independent candidate Lincoln Chafee. During the debate, WJAR-TV used dial testing technology for the first time in Rhode Island history. The technology allowed audience members to record their moment-by-moment impressions during the debate and then displayed their aggregated responses on a screen in real time.

Additionally, the Rhode Island Broadcasters Association developed candidate profiles for the 2010 campaign season. For the third consecutive year, RIBA contacted each statewide candidate and invited them to produce a brief profile. Candidates' radio and television profiles were made available to all RIBA members to include on their individual radio and TV websites.

Illinois Station Provides 'The Link' For Election News

KHQA-TV Quincy, Ill., which serves viewers in western Illinois and eastern Missouri, broadcast the Missouri Senate debate between Republican candidate Rep. Roy Blunt and his Democratic challenger Robin Carnahan on October 24. The station also dedicated its 30-minute public affairs program, 'The Link,' to covering the 2010 election beginning mid-September. KHQA-TV invited rotating hosts to interview political candidates on 'The Link,' which airs every Sunday morning. In addition to the interviews, 'The Link' provides election event information and polling location details.

Election News Swirls in Kansas

KSNT-TV Topeka actively covered the 2010 election from the start of the campaign cycle, hosting a primary debate between leading Republican candidates for Kansas’s U.S. Senate seat on August 6, 2010. The live debate, produced from KSNT-TV studios, featured Congressmen Jerry Moran and Todd Tiahrt who both ran for Sen. Sam Brownback’s Senate seat. Rep. Moran now faces Democratic challenger Lisa Johnston for the open seat.

KWCH-TV Wichita, Kansas covered the 2010 election, focusing on the local U.S. District 4 Congressional race. KWCH-TV invited candidates running in the Fourth District to participate in a live online forum on October 4, 2010. During the debate candidates responded to questions district voters had submitted online. Video footage of the debate was made available on the KWCH-TV Campaign 2010 website, along with several polls, full scripts of the candidates’ responses to voter inquires, as well as their closing remarks.

California Broadcasters Get Brokaw for Debate Duties

KTVU-TV Oakland broadcast a live Senatorial debate on September 1 between incumbent Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer and the Republican candidate Carly Fiorina. The debate, which was held at St. Mary’s College in Moraga, was moderated by KTVU’s Randy Shandobil.

In October, NBC sponsored the 2010 California Governor’s debate at Dominican University of California between Democratic candidate Jerry Brown and Republican candidate Meg Whitman. Tom Brokaw moderated the debate which was broadcast live October 12 on nine NBC affiliate stations across California: KNTV-TV Bay Area, KCRA-TV Sacramento, KNBC-TV Los Angeles, KIEM-TV Eureka, KSBW-TV Monterey/Salinas, KNSD-TV San Diego, KSEE-TV Fresno, KMIR-TV Palm Springs and KSBY-TV San Luis Obispo/Santa Maria/Santa Barbara.