The Fairness Doctrine and You
July 1st 2008 14:55
The Fairness Doctrine was an obscure law that died during the Reagan area. Yet after almost 20 years you are about to see the Fairness Doctrine part II. Is this a good thing?
First, a little history. Prior to the expiration of the fairness doctrine, media outlets were required by federal law to give equal time to both conservative and liberal points of view. Did they? More to the point, why should you care?
1) On the left- Do you have pictures of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Bill O’Reilly on your dart board? If so, a renewal of the Fairness Doctrine, as proposed by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, is right up your ally. There is no doubt about the real intent of the Fairness Doctrine. It is to bring talk radio back under control. With the slow, but inevitable, death of other traditional forms of media, talk radio remains one of the few viable media outlets. You have captive audiences in their cars. Their only options are music or talk. So what is wrong with hearing both sides of the issue? It is only “fair” right? But fair for who? Just as it is certain that the death of the Fairness doctrine launched Limbaugh and his ilk, it is also true that liberal talk radio as failed. Air America was a disaster. Every time the left parades out a version of Rush, that person fails miserably. Radio is the one media market where it is truly Darwinism at its best.
2) On the right- Be afraid, be very afraid. Nancy Pelosi and the left are on the war path again. The left controls all form of media except the internet and talk radio. If the Fairness Doctrine is reinstated it could be the death of conservative talk radio as we know it, at least on the free airwaves. With the threat of fines, radio stations will have no choice but to reinstate the milquetoast that passed for talk radio in the olden days. This will force current radio talk show juggernauts like Limbaugh to move to satellite radio, while smaller shows like Laura Ingram will probably disappear all together
What will probably happen?
It is very difficult to put the genie back in the bottle, but Speaker Pelosi and her counterparts in the Senate are going to try. While the Fairness Doctrine probably does not have the necessary votes to override an almost certain veto, it will probably be on the top of the list of bills if Senator Obama wins the White House. If the bill does come up for a vote, do not expect Clear Channel and the other major radio conglomerates to remain silent. Talk radio is one of their cash cows. They will not take this assault lying down
First, a little history. Prior to the expiration of the fairness doctrine, media outlets were required by federal law to give equal time to both conservative and liberal points of view. Did they? More to the point, why should you care?
1) On the left- Do you have pictures of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Bill O’Reilly on your dart board? If so, a renewal of the Fairness Doctrine, as proposed by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, is right up your ally. There is no doubt about the real intent of the Fairness Doctrine. It is to bring talk radio back under control. With the slow, but inevitable, death of other traditional forms of media, talk radio remains one of the few viable media outlets. You have captive audiences in their cars. Their only options are music or talk. So what is wrong with hearing both sides of the issue? It is only “fair” right? But fair for who? Just as it is certain that the death of the Fairness doctrine launched Limbaugh and his ilk, it is also true that liberal talk radio as failed. Air America was a disaster. Every time the left parades out a version of Rush, that person fails miserably. Radio is the one media market where it is truly Darwinism at its best.
2) On the right- Be afraid, be very afraid. Nancy Pelosi and the left are on the war path again. The left controls all form of media except the internet and talk radio. If the Fairness Doctrine is reinstated it could be the death of conservative talk radio as we know it, at least on the free airwaves. With the threat of fines, radio stations will have no choice but to reinstate the milquetoast that passed for talk radio in the olden days. This will force current radio talk show juggernauts like Limbaugh to move to satellite radio, while smaller shows like Laura Ingram will probably disappear all together
What will probably happen?
It is very difficult to put the genie back in the bottle, but Speaker Pelosi and her counterparts in the Senate are going to try. While the Fairness Doctrine probably does not have the necessary votes to override an almost certain veto, it will probably be on the top of the list of bills if Senator Obama wins the White House. If the bill does come up for a vote, do not expect Clear Channel and the other major radio conglomerates to remain silent. Talk radio is one of their cash cows. They will not take this assault lying down
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