What Foxnews does should be illegal. Why isn't it?

[BlueStreak]

156. Perhaps not that exact set of restrictions, but some regulation is appropriate

There were historically limits on the concentration of media power. One entity could not own more than a certain number of newspapers, radio stations, teevee stations, etc. I think there is still merit to this, and that SHOULD be applied to the cable industry.

For example, under the Fairness doctrine, local stations were required to offer time to spokesmen who believed that a news account was inaccurate or unfair. This same doctrine (with some safeguards) should apply to all news outlets today.

I really don't see how cable is any different from over-the air. If I have a teevee and a cable package, then the content is in my house whether I invite it or not. Nobody specifically purchases MSNBC or Fox. It is part of a package, and consequently is no different from the same content coming in through radio waves.

If a producer knew that he would have to offer time to somebody who would be able to tell the other side directly to his audience, I believe that would change the way these partisan media outlets do their job. If radio stations were obligated to give a spokesman 5 minutes at the end of every Rush Limbaugh hour to set the record straight, this would force him to be a lot more accurate in his speech.