Resurrect the fairness doctrine:would end CNN,FOXNEWS,MSNBC, blame reagen!

[ParisFrance]

The doctrine was established in 1949 to ensure that news was fair and balanced and that news of importance to the community was aired. (No, Lacy Peterson coverage) In 1967 the FCC layed out a set of rules to make sure the doctrine was operation against personal attacks and political editorializing. In 1971 they created the "Ascertainment of Community needs" act which forced them to cover events of importance in the community. The fairness doctrine was criticized by journalists as an infringement on their 1st amendment rights. They also would fail to cover stories of importance because they were required to find two contrasting views. ( I thought they were required to cover stories of im portance , but there must be some small details)As we got into the 80s, there were so many channels from cable that the issue of "scarcity" from one view point dominating all the channels or frequencies. The FCC which mandated the doctrine was came out with a report in 1985 and said the act was having a bad effect by those failing to cover stories of importance and might be a violation of the 1st amendment. The courts later ruled the FCC not longer had to enforce the doctrine. In 1987 congress passed the act into a law , but Reagen chose to veto the bill because he thought government and business affairs should be seperate.

[quispquake]

1. I totally agree!

This should be priority 1 for the new administration come January...Right now, our media is just another shill for the right wingers...reinstate the fairness doctrine, and perhaps it would be a bit harder to put all this bullshit over on the American people...

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Rememer Clinton tried to bring it back

And people like Rush fought against it with a passion, this should be the first executive order signed by President Kerry

[ParisFrance]

3. Rush would be out of two jobs: talk show and lieing to america