Fairness Doctrine Part 3 and more
August 1, 2007 by koko chassid
(Savage when he was on MSNBC)
The discussion of the fairness doctrine has always ended with Liberals liking it and Conservatives opposing it. Their is no fairness in radio. I just think its the station’s right to hire who they want not what the Government says to do.
Two days ago Savage said [MP3] that Atheists and Muslims hate Christians and Jews. Which is an out right lie!!!! I do not support what Dr. Savage says in any way.
What I do not like is when stations will fire people for their freedom of speech, such as Don Imus. People make jokes and its alright. Comedians like Carlos Mencia have said ” They are just jokes. If I go to south side San Diego I wont hear. YO THIS BEANER’S GOT JOKES!!!!!! ”
Savage got fired from MSNBC for telling this caller to get aids and die.
What do you think about it all?
spelling mistake: to get aids and die not egt aids and die
[Reply]
I think the problems with the Fairness Doctrine go a lot further than partisan politics. I think that it is outright contradictory to free speech and flies in the face of consumer choice. Government mandating what people listen to and what stations play is incredibly harmful to all of us. I’ve done some work with the NAB and when Washington got rid of the Fairness Doctrine back in the 80 it was because technology evolved to the point where it wasn’t necessary. Now that we have blogs and many other new ways of express it is even less of a good idea as it was back then.
[Reply]
The fairness doctrine requires that both sides of issues of public importance be presented equally in a station’s overall programming.
There’s no need for that, and, as far as I’m concerned, it’s in a constitutional gray area that makes me very uncomfortable.
A quick story: Our local radio station still has he fairness doctrine written into it’s policy. Even though it was abolished years ago, they choose to keep it around in order to keep programming “fair.”
Long story short, I applied to be a political talk show DJ on that station and took the FCC programmer’s test, only to be told that I couldn’t have a show after all because I was too biased in my political opinion.
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Johnny thats exacty why people like me and Savage dont want it becouse it will moderate us. Imagine if they did a fairness doctrine for bloggers????
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I think you’re exactly right - Fairness advocates would have a much different tone if we were applying it to the blogosphere as opposed to just the radio waves. Not only would it stifle conversation because of the need for equal play, but if there is strict moderation between the two sides, whats going to be left for any third, or fourth, etc. opinion out there?
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