11 CFR § 100.73 - News story, commentary, or editorial by the media.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t11/s100.73"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "11 CFR § 100.73 - News story, commentary, or editorial by the media."
title_number: 11
title_name: "Federal Elections"
section_number: "100.73"
section_name: "News story, commentary, or editorial by the media."
chapter_name: "FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION"
subchapter_number: "A"
subchapter_name: "GENERAL"
part_number: "100"
part_name: "SCOPE AND DEFINITIONS (52 U.S.C. 30101)"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "52 U.S.C. 30101, 30102(g), 30104, 30111(a)(8), and 30114(c)."
regulatory_source: "45 FR 15094, Mar. 7, 1980, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "100"
---


# 100.73 News story, commentary, or editorial by the media.

Any cost incurred in covering or carrying a news story, commentary, or editorial by any broadcasting station (including a cable television operator, programmer or producer), website, newspaper, magazine, or other periodical publication, including any Internet or electronic publication, is not a contribution unless the facility is owned or controlled by any political party, political committee, or candidate, in which case the costs for a news story:

(a) That represents a *bona fide* news account communicated in a publication of general circulation or on a licensed broadcasting facility; and

(b) That is part of a general pattern of campaign-related news accounts that give reasonably equal coverage to all opposing candidates in the circulation or listening area, is not a contribution.

[67 FR 50585, Aug. 5, 2002, as amended at 71 FR 18613, Apr. 12, 2006; 89 FR 215, Jan. 2, 2024]