The Fairness Doctrine: Free Speech and the Radio Marketplace
Thursday July 3, 2008
For about 36 years between 1949 until 1985, Radio adhered to a government policy called "The Fairness Doctrine". After it was eliminated, conservative talk radio made a stunning rise in popularity, led by Rush Limbaugh. Now, some critics are calling for The Fairness Doctrine to be brought back. There's nothing "fair" about this relic of regulation and let me tell you why. (Opinion)
Comments
How naive can we be here? The argument against the fairness doctrine is valid only if the commentator truly believes that a free market exists. We all know it doesn’t. Would he also argue that the SEC and FDA are relics for similar reasons? Under the commentator’s line of reasoning, all public lands should be auctioned off to the highest bidder, and business should be totally unfettered to do what the market will dictate. His comments bely a fundamental lack of comprehension of how the market system works in this post capitalist economy. What he fails to realize is that those who control the media are large corporations with vested interests in certain policies, and that they have created a juggernaut of PR to promote that. What the commentator fails to realize is that without the fairness doctrine, the public airwaves have lost the point-counterpoint free exchange of ideas, and become the bully pulpit for those with one agenda and the money to promote it. That’s not the way it was intended, nor the way it should be.
Boy is that a bunch of nazi left wing baloney! The reason conservative radio is alive and prospering is in a word RATINGS Duh! people listen! Obviously not,thank goodness, the now BANKRUPT! Airhead america!
the only nationally syndicated Left winger is Alan Combs!
OH and by-the-by ISN’T HE ON FOX!!!!!!!!!
I agree with the last post. Carl the communist is just upset that when government permits popularity to regulate what is on radio, i.e., ratings, his brand of politics fail in the marketplace of ideas. NPR, PBS, NEA, etc. exist as liberal mouthpieces only because they are forced upon the public through confiscation, i.e., taxation. Carl the communist doesn’t understand how markets work…er, maybe he does, and that’s why he wants government..no, Demirats to take fascist control of the radio airwaves, but not his precious CBS, ABC, NBC, CNN, etc. etc. We are in a war of ideology. The so-called moderates, centrists, undecideds are between joining the envious Demirats, or the ole-Protestant-work-ethic Republicans. They are in the middle because they are lazy minds, but they have a sense that they will be just sheeple for the Demirats’ plans. Let’s pray our country survives the covetous Left and the ignoble middle.