The Fairness Doctrine

CCRunner · Feb 13, 2009

Can somebody please explain to me what exactly this encompasses? I've been hearing a lot about it in the news but I don't really know what it deals with. From what I gather/read from wikipedia, it basically says that radio people are required to support both sides of a political arguement?

If I'm correct in my assesment of this, how can anybody think this is a good idea?

Formaldehyde · Feb 13, 2009

It used to be the law until 1987, but this time around it appears to be much ado about nothing:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/craig-aaron/the-fairness-doctrine-jus_b_166767.html

As I've written here repeatedly, there is no chance the Fairness Doctrine will come back. There's no bill to reinstate it in Congress, no public interest advocates are campaigning for it, and the netroots aren't interested. Acting FCC Chairman Michael Copps doesn't want it back, and President Barack Obama is unequivocally opposed.

Perhaps I'm missing a more subtle and sophisticated strategy in which these politicians are summoning the ghost of the Fairness Doctrine to keep Republicans so apoplectic that they won't have the energy to obstruct more important issues. I wish the Democrats were so clever.

Bill3000 · Feb 13, 2009

It wasn't even legislation. It was an FCC regulation.

Conservative radio peeps tend to be hyper-paranoid over this issue, for obvious reasons, though not rational ones. (Considering that they also tend to be the type of people who support a ban of flag burning and support the conservative equivalent of an "academic" fairness doctrine in universities.)

Bigfoot3814 · Feb 13, 2009

CCRunner said:
Can somebody please explain to me what exactly this encompasses? I've been hearing a lot about it in the news but I don't really know what it deals with. From what I gather/read from wikipedia, it basically says that radio people are required to support both sides of a political arguement?

It required broadcast stations equal airtime for contrasting sides of controversial issues in the interest of fairness to the public.

If I'm correct in my assesment of this, how can anybody think this is a good idea?

It's beyond me. And reinstatement is supported by a few choice politicians, some senators, most notably former president Clinton.

Bill3000 · Feb 13, 2009

Bigfoot3814 said:
It's beyond me. And reinstatement is supported by a few choice politicians, some senators, most notably former president Clinton.

And there's a bunch of representatives who support a flag banning amendment. Far more than the fairness doctrine, which is only a minority among Democrats to begin with. You honestly think that something that has any probable chance of being passed, especially since the President is adamantly against it? And heck, with the way the Supreme court is today, you honestly think that it wouldn't be stricken down as unconstitutional?

Bigfoot3814 · Feb 13, 2009

Of course it won't be reinstated. I was just saying. He did ask. :dunno:

Cutlass · Feb 13, 2009

Maybe Bill Clinton should get his own radio show

GenMarshall · Feb 13, 2009

It's the only one to shut the traps of the likes of Rush Limbauge.

Mowque · Feb 13, 2009

CivGeneral said:
It's the only one to shut the traps of the likes of Rush Limbauge.

Who would be the liberal equal of Rush? (i don't listen to talk radio so i don't know.)

Cutlass · Feb 13, 2009

Mowque said:
Who would be the liberal equal of Rush? (i don't listen to talk radio so i don't know.)

Closest might have been Al Frankin. But he's a US Senator now :lol:

or at least I think he will be.

Bigfoot3814 · Feb 13, 2009

Mowque said:
Who would be the liberal equal of Rush? (i don't listen to talk radio so i don't know.)

Liberal talk radio pretty much sucks. Al Franken had the most success, and his show only ran for 3 years.

Formaldehyde · Feb 13, 2009

Bigfoot3814 said:
Liberal talk radio pretty much sucks. Al Franken had the most success, and his show only ran for 3 years.

Yeah. How silly of him to give up a radio talk show just so he could become a senator. What a fool.

Bigfoot3814 · Feb 13, 2009

Formaldehyde said:
Yeah. How silly of him to give up a radio talk show just so he could become a senator. What a fool.

There's still not much of a liberal presence in talk radio, which was the point I was trying to make.

Formaldehyde · Feb 13, 2009

After having listened to talk radio only a few times in my life, I'm not very surprised. What surprises me is that anybody listens to it.

Best Oliver Stone Movie By Far

Trailer

Bigfoot3814 · Feb 13, 2009

Formaldehyde said:
After having listened to talk radio only a few times in my life, I'm not very surprised. What surprises me is that anybody listens to it.

I don't know what would make you say that. I find it highly entertaining. There are also plenty of excellent non-political talk shows.

Best Oliver Stone Movie By Far

I would agree. :goodjob:

Mowque · Feb 13, 2009

Does this mean that they would require local sports announcers to stop demonizing the other team?! :mischief:

GenMarshall · Feb 13, 2009

Mowque said:
Who would be the liberal equal of Rush? (i don't listen to talk radio so i don't know.)

Unless you are very VERY lucky. They are basically an endangered species when it comes to radio since it's mostly dominated by hardcore nutty authoritarian conservatives (try saying that 10x fast :ack:

)

Bigfoot3814 · Feb 13, 2009

CivGeneral said:
Unless you are very VERY lucky. They are basically an endangered species when it comes to radio since it's mostly dominated by hardcore nutty authoritarian conservatives (try saying that 10x fast )

There are some local shows but in terms of syndication I wouldn't be surprised if they were outnumbered 10 to 1. Of course this is all terrestrial radio. There are more liberal shows on satellite, and I'm sure there are thousands of podcasts.

bhsup · Feb 14, 2009

Bigfoot3814 said:
Liberal talk radio pretty much sucks. Al Franken had the most success, and his show only ran for 3 years.

*cough* Alan Colmes *cough*

Bigfoot3814 · Feb 14, 2009

VRWCAgent said:
*cough* Alan Colmes *cough*

The guy's show is syndicated by Fox News Radio, it doesn't really stand on its own. He's more there to let them say "fair and balanced" with less of a snicker. Even when he was teamed up with Hannity Colmes never really went too far out of his way to stand the liberal ground.

The Fairness Doctrine

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The Man Who Wasn't There.

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Both Fair And Balanced

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Both Fair And Balanced

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Hypermodernist

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