Fairness Doctrine

2007-11-23T18:27:37Z

DeusExMachina: /* Opposition to mandated fairness */

The '''fairness doctrine''' was a policy of the U. S. Federal Communications Commission from 1949 until 1987. Daniel Henninger wrote in the ''Wall Street Journal,
{{Cquote|[[Ronald Reagan]] tore down this wall (the Fairness Doctrine) in 1987... and [[Rush Limbaugh]] was the first man to proclaim himself liberated from the [[East Germany]] of [[liberal media]] domination.” <ref>[http://www.newmediajournal.us/staff/p_hollrah/06262007.htm The Nazification of the American Left], Paul R. Hollrah, ''New Media Journal'', June 26, 2007.</ref>}}
The doctrine required broadcasters who aired material on controversial issues to provide "equal time" for the expression of opposing views. The net result was censorship, broadcasters simply refrained from airing public affairs programing.

==Opposition to mandated fairness==
One recurring criticism of this requirement was that it had the ''[[de facto]]'' effect of limiting broadcast-media treatment of certain controversial subjects. <ref>Doris A. Garber, "Mass Media and American Politics" (Washington: Congressional Quarterly Press, 1980), p. 93. Doris Garber argues that "the media frequently shy away from programs dealing with controversial public issues to avoid demands to air opposing views in place of revenue-producing programs.'' </ref>

Under [[FCC]] regulations, however, the media could avoid the problem of furnishing additional air-time for opposing views if they included opposing views on the issues in their regular news programming. The courts tended to side with radio and television media if they can bring forth reasonably good evidence of "fairness" in the coverage.

THE FAIRNESS DOCTRINE IS A BILL THAT CONSERVATIVES ARGUE AGAINST THE RE-INSTITUTION OF. THEIR COMPLAINTS ARE IRONIC WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT IT WOULD SUPPRESS THE SO CALLED "LIBERAL MEDIA". OR RATHER, MAYBE IT'S NOT SO IRONIC WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE FACT THAT THEY DON'T ACTUALLY BELIEVE THERE IS A LIBERALLY BIASED MEDIA, BUT RATHER A LIBERALLY BIASED REALITY.

IT'S ALSO SOMEWHAT IRONIC WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT THEY'RE CONSTANTLY COMPLAINING ABOUT THE (SUPPOSED) POLITICAL INDOCTRINATION GOING ON AT PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES.

ALL IN ALL, THEIR VIEWS AREN'T TOO OUT OF PLACE. CONSERVATIVES HAVE A REPUTATION FOR BASING BELIEFS OFF INTUITION, AND THEN DENYING THE FACT THAT THEY DON'T MAKE SENSE OR CONFLICT ONE ANOTHER.

[[Philip Terzian]] at the [[Weekly Standard]] says "Revival of the Fairness Doctrine is not intended to facilitate "both sides of the story" but to shut down conservative talk radio." <ref>http://weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/013/926hhctd.asp Radio Free America</ref>

==See also==
*[[Censorship]]
*[[Previous Breaking News/Fairness Doctrine|Articles about the '''Fairness Doctrine''' from previous "Breaking News"]]

== References ==
<references/>

[[category:law]]
[[category:politics]]
[[category:broadcasting]]
[[category:human rights]]

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Fairness Doctrine