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YOHABLO

(7,358 posts)
74. Anyone remember the FCC fairness doctrine?
Sun Dec 8, 2019, 10:38 AM
Dec 2019

The fairness doctrine of the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC), introduced in 1949, was a policy that required the holders of broadcast licenses to both present controversial issues of public importance and to do so in a manner that was—in the FCC's view—honest, equitable, and balanced. The FCC eliminated the policy in 1987 and removed the rule that implemented the policy from the Federal Register in August 2011.[1]
The fairness doctrine had two basic elements: It required broadcasters to devote some of their airtime to discussing controversial matters of public interest, and to air contrasting views regarding those matters. Stations were given wide latitude as to how to provide contrasting views: It could be done through news segments, public affairs shows, or editorials. The doctrine did not require equal time for opposing views but required that contrasting viewpoints be presented. The demise of this FCC rule has been considered by some to be a contributing factor for the rising level of party polarization in the United States.[2][3]
The main agenda for the doctrine was to ensure that viewers were exposed to a diversity of viewpoints. In 1969 the United States Supreme Court, in Red Lion Broadcasting Co. v. FCC, upheld the FCC's general right to enforce the fairness doctrine where channels were limited. However, the Court did not rule that the FCC was obliged to do so.[4] The courts reasoned that the scarcity of the broadcast spectrum, which limited the opportunity for access to the airwaves, created a need for the doctrine.
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We can thank both the Reagan and G.H.W. Bush administrations for its demise. They both vetoed legislation to reinstate the doctrine. Wouldn't you know it would be Republicans to do away with it. ...more on Wikipedia if interested.

K&R for visibility. nt tblue37 Dec 2019 #1
I believe the death of the unions was a major factor in both the U.S. and Britain. olegramps Dec 2019 #71
This disaster had a midwife -- and his name is Rupert Murdoch. eppur_se_muova Dec 2019 #2
Yup! nt drmeow Dec 2019 #10
Ronald Reagan also assisted in that birthing room calimary Dec 2019 #15
pretty sure he was the paternal unit. tho the DNA says GOP. pansypoo53219 Dec 2019 #46
Aided, and abetted by Thatcher. n/t Myrddin Dec 2019 #60
Well put. +1 Mersky Dec 2019 #17
Murdoch followed the Reagan/Thatcher New World Order malaise Dec 2019 #18
Exactly. orangecrush Dec 2019 #23
Murodoch's role in the decline of the UK & US can't be omitted. appalachiablue Dec 2019 #29
K/R Robt. Reich, 'Is America Becoming A 3rd World Country?' appalachiablue Dec 2019 #57
WHat can one say? It is demoralizing as hell to live in a short-sighted and very selfish governed hlthe2b Dec 2019 #3
Exactly what is going on!!! n/t RKP5637 Dec 2019 #4
What might be going on is a collapse of monarchism and democracy through corporatocracy's insurgency ancianita Dec 2019 #5
If we're honest with ourselves Doremus Dec 2019 #12
Believe that if you want to, but honesty requires a much bigger perspective than this study. And the ancianita Dec 2019 #26
Sometimes the truth hurts. Doremus Dec 2019 #31
Nobody's standing by unless they are DISabled from using reasonable means to rid ancianita Dec 2019 #35
It's self-preservation to take our well being into our own hands. Doremus Dec 2019 #41
It takes time to learn when they're LYING. I said what I said, not what you said I said. ancianita Dec 2019 #42
Shame does not build a self to preserve. Shame does not build capacity; it incapacitates. ancianita Dec 2019 #43
This mess we're in is 40 years in the making. Doremus Dec 2019 #54
Russia purchased the executive branch orangecrush Dec 2019 #24
Not in the legal, public, contractual up front sense of "purchase." Trump hid illegal money ancianita Dec 2019 #28
Agree 100% orangecrush Dec 2019 #82
It's the stagnation and destructive end stages of capitalism Farmer-Rick Dec 2019 #69
It's interesting that you say "a few filthy rich." We know their names, & relative to billions ancianita Dec 2019 #76
Excellent analysis of where we are and where we are heading Va Lefty Dec 2019 #6
Brilliant duhneece Dec 2019 #7
Dismal and well-thought out essay.... Upthevibe Dec 2019 #8
and if I remember right, most of those 'movements' were demigoddess Dec 2019 #9
What the cyberpunk genre has been predicting for decades ismnotwasm Dec 2019 #11
Watching too many movies lately? YOHABLO Dec 2019 #68
No, it's a specific sci fi genre I'm fond of reading ismnotwasm Dec 2019 #72
Fiction does become reality at some point. So it seems. YOHABLO Dec 2019 #73
So depressing, but true. smirkymonkey Dec 2019 #13
There's also an article in today's WSJ NJCher Dec 2019 #14
Great thread. I've been umair haque's writing in Eudaimonia for a while erronis Dec 2019 #16
+1 keithbvadu2 Dec 2019 #19
The author NAILED this perfectly. Thanks. n/t CousinIT Dec 2019 #20
And they will blame it on Socialism. n/t AwakeAtLast Dec 2019 #21
and the only reason it works is liberals ignore 1500 coordinated radio stations certainot Dec 2019 #32
I agree but WHO has funded the placement of those propaganda broadcasts on 1500 radio stations? hedda_foil Dec 2019 #44
i think a lot of the stations are just loudly dominant in their areas, or the only AM certainot Dec 2019 #48
Agree, RW media is subsidized by billionaires radius777 Dec 2019 #65
Socialism.... the gaslighting of reality UpInArms Dec 2019 #70
Neoliberalism promised freedom - instead it delivers stifling control. KY_EnviroGuy Dec 2019 #22
GREED. period. The rich can NEVER have enough. NRaleighLiberal Dec 2019 #25
sex on the wrong brain explains greed is exacerbated by sending impatient satisfaction- certainot Dec 2019 #30
brexit champion nigel farage is a radio talk show host. trump is a dittohead. and putin uses certainot Dec 2019 #27
What if you are ambidextrous? pbmus Dec 2019 #36
then you might be lucky. and women are more able to use the left hand certainot Dec 2019 #37
What if I'm right handed but got it blown off pbmus Dec 2019 #39
Stop that!!!!!! nt Blue_true Dec 2019 #53
What to do? sandiapeach Dec 2019 #61
Weak government is the problem BeyondGeography Dec 2019 #33
Murdoch has destroyed the US, Australia and Britain. Mickju Dec 2019 #34
if liberals destroyed rw radio in the US, political fox would dissolve certainot Dec 2019 #38
Anyone remember the FCC fairness doctrine? YOHABLO Dec 2019 #74
thanks. the kremlin recognized the problem before the dem party and has been using those stations certainot Dec 2019 #81
Murdoch should be tried for treason and executed. roamer65 Dec 2019 #58
The Murdochs muct be pleased tonite w/ BoJo appalachiablue Dec 2019 #83
Thank you for initiating one of the best discussions I've seen on DU for some time. scarletwoman Dec 2019 #40
We used to have this depth of discussion all the time, didn't we? hedda_foil Dec 2019 #45
It does seem like there was more deep thinking in the early days. scarletwoman Dec 2019 #47
K n R ! Thanks for posting!.... JoeOtterbein Dec 2019 #49
Two words....Reagan and Thatcher. Two more words...their legacy. paleotn Dec 2019 #50
The problem is this. Blue_true Dec 2019 #55
Exactly..... paleotn Dec 2019 #79
It goes back further. Garrett78 Dec 2019 #63
Yep, the blueprints for Reaganism and Thatcherism. paleotn Dec 2019 #78
must read blm Dec 2019 #51
Greed Is Not Good colsohlibgal Dec 2019 #52
So unbridled short-term greed moondust Dec 2019 #56
If England puts Johnson back in as PM, Scotland is out of the UK. roamer65 Dec 2019 #59
I've often wondered.... democrank Dec 2019 #62
Even fairly frugal people can easily end up with credit card debt due to... Garrett78 Dec 2019 #64
Indeed democrank Dec 2019 #67
Consumerism is a way bigger problem than just fixing credit card issues, it's cultural/spiritual ansible Dec 2019 #66
Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2019 #75
This Thread is What I Want to See Here McKim Dec 2019 #77
Agree, a critical post and our country is declining sorry to say. appalachiablue Dec 2019 #80
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