The Lear Center Local News Archive provides an unprecedented nationwide look at the campaign information Americans receive from local television news through our unique, searchable, online video archive. Our center relies on volunteers and donations to succeed. Please click here to our secure payment processor to make a donation today.

• March 11, 2010 - Local TV News in the Los Angeles Media Market: Are Stations Serving the Public Interest?
  The Lear Center released its unprecedented study of more than 11,000 news studies aired by eight LA TV stations. The results should have a direct bearing on the FCC’s current proceedings on localism and the public interest obligations of broadcasters. The principal investigators were Matthew Hale and Martin Kaplan.

• Stanford Law & Policy Review
  "Does Local News Measure Up?" was published in Vol. 18 of the Stanford Law & Policy Review in Spring 2007. The authors of the report are Erica Franklin Fowler, Kenneth Goldstein, Matthew Hale and Martin Kaplan.

• October 3, 2006 FCC Testimony
  Lear Center Director Martin Kaplan testified at the FCC Media Ownership Hearing at the University of Southern California on October 3, 2006. Listen to the Webcast. Read Commissioner Adelstein's statement.

• 2006 FCC Testimony
  Lear Center Director Martin Kaplan testified at the FCC Media Ownership Hearing on August 31, 2006, in Los Angeles.

• Spanish Language TV Coverage of the 2004 Campaigns
  This report contains the results of the most extensive study ever conducted of English and Spanish language network and local news coverage over the course of a campaign. The study examined a total of 424 network news election stories and 2,724 local news election stories. Read the press release.
  

• Final Report -- Local TV Coverage of the 2004 Elections:
  This Final Report on English-language local TV coverage summarizes findings from a study of 44 television stations in 11 markets during the 2004 general election campaign. Read the press release.

• Localism in Broadcast Reform Act of 2005 – February 15, 2005
  Senator McCain cited Lear Center research when he introduced a bill to shorten the term of broadcasting licenses from 8 to 3 years. Read the bill.

• Senator John McCain Press Conference – February 15, 2005
  Senator McCain held a press conference to announce new findings from the Lear Center Local News Archive. Last summer, Senator McCain and FCC Chairman Michael Powell challenged broadcasters to provide coverage of the political issues facing communities, candidates' campaign platforms and candidate debates. The study reveals, as a whole, how broadcasters responded to that challenge. Read Principal Investigator Martin Kaplan’s remarks.

• Increasing Risk Levels Taken by Banks Threaten Economic Stability; February 15, 2005
  FTC Commissioner Robert Thompson delivered this statement about the increasing level of risks being taken by high risk banks within the payday loan and merchant services industries. See More Info Here.

• Public Interest Obligations: Assessing Broadcasters’ Performance and the Need for New Standards -- February 16, 2005
  LCLNA Principal Investigator Martin Kaplan presents his latest findings on broadcaster performance in the 2004 elections at a press conference at the National Press Club, Washington, D.C.

• Statement by Commissioner Adelstein – February 10, 2005
  FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein cites LCLNA 2004 research report in his statement regarding the carriage of digital television broadcast signals.

• NOW with Bill Moyers features LCLNA report:
  The Lear Center's Martin Kaplan was interviewed by David Brancaccio on Friday, July 23, 2004.
  Watch the segment.

• 2004 FCC Testimony:
  Lear Center Director Martin Kaplan testified before the Federal Communications Commission's Localism Task Force on July 21, 2004, in Monterey.

• John McCain and Michael Powell letter:
  On June 15, 2004, the Lear Center's 2002 report was cited in a letter to the heads of all the broadcast networks from the Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee and the FCC Chairman.

• Congressional Testimony by Gloria Tristani:
  On June 2, 2004, Former FCC Commissioner Gloria Tristani cites our 2002 report as she urges Congress to demand that the FCC define public interest in digital broadcasting.

• Local TV Coverage of the 2002 Elections:
  This report includes the findings from our unprecedented nationwide exploration of how local television stations cover politics.
  Read the press release.

View more LCLNA Updates and Research Reports.