The Fairness Doctrine

FAIR by Steve Rendall | Feb. 19, 2009 (Investigative Report)
How we lost it, and why we need it back

A license permits broadcasting, but the licensee has no constitutional right to be the one who holds the license or to monopolize a...frequency to the exclusion of his fellow citizens. There is nothing in the First Amendment which prevents the Government from requiring a licensee to share his frequency with others.... It is the right of the viewers and listeners, not the right of the broadcasters, which is paramount.

— U.S. Supreme Court, ... Full Story »

Posted by Doug Greer

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Peter L. Combs
2.2
 by Peter L. Combs - Feb. 21, 2009

Slanted Facts, unfair, rehash of old kinards, way out of context, shallow , lazy cut and pastes, one sided sources and shabby writing. The article is absurdly slanted, loaded wording throughout, presents a badly expressed out of context history on the Doctrine. Mr. Rendel gets an F as a journalist and writer. I hate mincing my words...

The Fairness Doctrine came into being when their were few broadcasters in the US and fear abounded they would be the ONLY outlets. The author never once mentioned the piles of Left of center broadcasting choices..ABC CBS NBC MSNBC PBS et al. I am sure his writing "sent a shiver" down ex journalist Chris Mathews famous leg.

In 1985, the FCC determined that the Fairness Doctrine was no longer necessary due to the emergence of a “multiplicity of voices in the marketplace.” The FCC was also of the view that the Fairness Doctrine may have violated the First Amendment. In a 1987 case, the courts declared that the doctrine was not mandated by Congress and the FCC did not have to continue to enforce it

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Peter's Rating

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2.2
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