Front Porch Forum, Seattle, WA 1996
Partners:
The Seattle Times
KUOW-FM Radio
KCTS Public TV
KPLU-FM, Tacoma, WA
The “Front Porch Forum” partners solidified their initiative in their third year, hiring a project coordinator and engaging more than 2,000 citizens in forums, focus groups and polling. The project focused on the gubernatorial and congressional elections. An initial poll of 570 Washington residents, conducted in April, provided the baseline for a series of features by all the partners on election issues such as job security, morals and values, money and politics and the welfare of children. To plumb the results in greater depth, the partners convened three focus groups involving a total of 33 citizens, and used the information gathered to develop a second poll of 400 residents statewide in early October. The surveys alerted the partners early on to the issues of the 1996 campaign, particularly citizen concerns about morality and family issues, so they were able to make sure candidates addressed them.
In the two most tightly contested congressional districts, the partners used voters in bellwether communities in covering the races. In each one, a group of 16 citizens representing a broad mix of ages, incomes and political leanings was recruited randomly to meet three times before the election, including a face-to-face meeting with the candidates.
In the gubernatorial race, the partners collaborated with the League of Women Voters to host two forums – one for Democratic candidates and one for Republicans. More than 400 citizens attended the Democrat’s forum and 250 participated in the Republican forum. In each, a panel of five citizens questioned the candidates for the first half and audience members asked questions during the second half. The forums were broadcast live in prime time by KCTS and attracted twice the usual viewership for the time slot.
After the November election, the partners sponsored a final public forum, “Our Schools, Our Kids,” broadcast live in December following the Times’ special section rating Seattle area high schools.
Contacts:
David Boardman
Managing Editor
The Seattle Times Co.
PO Box 70
Seattle, WA 98111
TEL: (206) 464-2160
FAX: (206) 464-2261
EMAIL: dboardman@seattletimes.com
Marion Woyvodich
1138 North 82nd Street
Seattle, WA 98103-4405
TEL: (206) 522-5754
FAX: (206) 528-5528
EMAIL: MWoyvodich@aol.com
Ross Reynolds
Radio Host
KUOW
P.O. Box 535750
Seattle, WA 98195
TEL: (206) 543-2710
FAX: (206) 543-2720
EMAIL: rar@u.washington.edu