By Gabe Bullard
Lexington, KY – Kentucky Educational Television is changing its format for candidate debates. The network will no longer broadcast traditional-format debates. Instead, spokesperson Tim Bischoff says candidates will participate in a group discussion.
"The candidates will all be on together on Kentucky Tonight, as we have sometimes two guests or three guests or four guests on Kentucky Tonight now, we'll have all the candidates for a particular office on together."
Bischoff says the format will prevent situations such as one that occurred in a congressional forum in 2008, when Representative Ed Whitfield refused to debate his opponent. KET was required to broadcast an unedited video of Whitfield after his challenger fielded questions. Now, if candidates decline to appear on Kentucky Tonight with their opponents, they will not be given airtime. For a schedule of candidate appearances, go to WFPL.org