Corporate/RW Media: Fighting Media Ownership Diversity By Attacking The "Fairness Doctrine" Strawman

[Median Democrat]

You may agree or disagree with the fairness doctrine, which was an attempt to ensure that all coverage of controversial issues by a broadcast station be balanced and fair. The FCC took the view, in 1949, that station licensees were "public trustees," and as such had an obligation to afford reasonable opportunity for discussion of contrasting points of view on controversial issues of public importance. The Commission later held that stations were also obligated to actively seek out issues of importance to their community and air programming that addressed those issues. With the deregulation sweep of the Reagan Administration during the 1980s, the Commission dissolved the fairness doctrine.

The fairness doctrine was and is controversial, and strong arguments can be made for reviving it. However, Dick Durbin's proposed amendment does not re-implement the fairness doctrine. Instead, it just requires the FCC to promote "diversity in communication media ownership":

/snip

SEC.9 FCC Authorities. (a) Clarification of General Powers. – Title III of the Communications Act of 1934 is amended by inserting after section 303 (47 U.S.C. 303) the following new section:

SEC.303B. Clarification of General Powers. (a) Certain Affirmative Actions Required – The Commission shall take actions to encourage and promote diversity in communication media ownership and to ensure that broadcast station licenses are used in the public interest. …

/snip

The Durbin Amendment says nothing about the fairness doctrine. It talks about media ownership. However, the right wing media is not letting facts get in their way, as they carry out the will of the media's corporate owners. In various right wing sources, a whisper campaign has begun to attack efforts to diversify media ownership, and fight the growth of media monopolies, by characterizing such efforts as censorship and a revival of the fairness doctrine. This campaign of lies is similar to the efforts to brand Obama's relatively modest tax increases on wealthy Americans in 2011 socialism.

Here is a sampling of the disinformation campaign, which is going on to undermine efforts to promote diversity in media ownership:

Inhofe Warns Broadcaster Licenses Could Be Revoked Under "Durbin Doctrine"

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/94010

With Limbaugh Battles Raging, Republicans Unite Behind Media Freedom

http://www.dcexaminer.com/politics/With-Limbaugh-Battles-Raging-Republicans-Unite-Behind-Media-Freedom-40580382.html

Bozell: Disavow Durbin's Fairness Doctrine Amendment

http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/bozell_durbin_doctrine/2009/03/05/188805.html

Pelosi Backs Talk Radio Regulations

http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/pelosi_durbin_amendment/2009/03/08/189685.html

MRC's Bozell: FCC Nominees Must Vow to Protect Talk Radio Before Confirmation

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/nb-staff/2009/03/04/mrcs-bozell-fcc-nominees-must-vow-protect-talk-radio-confirmation


If there was any doubt that the right wing noise machine is merely carrying out the will of its corporate owners, then this strawman campaign should dispose of such doubt. You may agree or disagree with fairness doctrine, but Durbin's Amendment does not re-impose the fairness doctrine. It merely promotes diversity in media ownership, which threatens the ability of Big Media to grow their media monopolies.

[Enthusiast]

1. The Durbin Amendment! Get 'er done! nt