Return of the Fairness Doctrine?

[geerussell]

Anybody want to shed some light on what exactly this thing will do? I wasn't around the last time this thing was in play...

Is it just a way to keep...

Rush Limbaugh
Sean Hannity
Mark Levin
Laura Ingraham
Hugh Hewitt
Michael Savage
Bill O'Reilly
Glenn Beck
Paul W. Smith
Frank Beckmann

from voicing their opinions...?



First Amendment, anybody?

Your homework assignment is to google the fairness doctrine and read the first amendment. No, you're not allowed to pay anyone to do it for you.

[MoTown]

So without doing any research and reading what you guys posted here, a person has to devote some time to give a contrasting viewpoint on his/her show? So basically it makes the zombies that watch these shows actually hear a different opinion.

And you guys are regarding this as an "End of Days" thing?

[geerussell]

I think the idea is antiquated, a throwback to 30 or 40 years ago when the public airwaves were dominated by a small number of big tv stations and people still huddled around their radios for news. In those days some sort of "share the road" rules were necessary to keep the discourse from being dominated by one side.

These days, with the internet, satellite radio, eleventy billion cable stations, etc... there's ample outlet in the marketplace for anyone to air any point of view they please without the blunt instrument of a fairness doctrine.

The only reason it's even being discussed now is because the democrats were down and out and grasping at straws. Now that they're back in power this particular desperation ploy will probably fade away.

Right wingnuts can rest easy, the open sewer that is Limbaugh and Hannity will continue to flow directly into the river of public discourse.

[Glenn]

From my understanding, part of the reason that this is an issue right now is that with the consolidation of the radio industry, you've only got a handful of companies running all of the radio stations.

There are markets where a corporate broadcaster owns three stations airing Rush Limbaugh at the same time, in the same market, effectively blocking out competition.

[Glenn]

Here's a good read, IMO:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/1.../67/982/660070

[Glenn]

Another:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/1...379/100/657901

[Hermy]

This is bullshit like being able to control cursing on the airwaves is bullshit. If you don't like it change the fucking channel.

[geerussell]

From my understanding, part of the reason that this is an issue right now is that with the consolidation of the radio industry, you've only got a handful of companies running all of the radio stations.

There are markets where a corporate broadcaster owns three stations airing Rush Limbaugh at the same time, in the same market, effectively blocking out competition.

That's true but in the presence of so many venues (internet, satellite, cable, etc) does the consolidation of broadcast radio represent a real problem? ... requiring heavy-handed (and whatever form the fairness doctrine took, it'd be a pretty big, blunt instrument) government intervention?

I would still contend that the push for it doesn't come from a lack of access but fear on the part of democrats at how effective the right wing blowhards are. Even if liberals had equal time, nobody would listen to a "liberal Limbaugh" ... copying pages out of the right's playbook just doesn't work (c.f: Air America Radio).

[geerussell]

Another:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/1...379/100/657901

+10 Motowns.

[Glenn]

I agree that a return to this legislation is largely unnecessary, but on the bright side, the increased battle of ideologies on these shows would likely lead to some pretty bitchin' fights/disagreements.

Unless the host just talks over you and won't let you speak, that is.