I’ve been thinking a lot about fairness lately, although not the fairness doctrine, per se. It seems to me that fairness is often in the eye of the beholder and that, in reality, life is not fair. It never has been and it never will be.
Comment by Dr. Steven Taylor — Friday, June 29, 2024 @ 9:18 am
I think the idea of the fairness doctrine coming back is probably rooted in the deep polarization of America. You state that there are more than 2 sides (conservative/liberal) to an issue, and ideally (theoretically) that’s true, and I would argue SHOULD be true. But in practicality, it seems to me that Americans are increasingly choosing sides and conforming to what are perceived to be those two ideologies more than anything. For good or for bad I think people are choosing sides, digging in, and staying there. I know a frightful number of people who vote on party and not priciple, not so much because they agree with everything their party says, but because they hate and are afraid of the other.
Were it not so, and were people on both sides not afraid of the other and concerned that the other wasn’t playing by the rules, we wouldn’t be talking about fairness doctrine at all.
I guess there may be more than 2 sides to an issue, but it seems anymore that there are only 2 that matter. . .
Comment by CPT D — Friday, June 29, 2024 @ 6:41 pm
Not that I necessarily disagree, but broadcast media are unlike, say, the internet in that the number of outlets is limited.
Anyone can start up a blog, but only a few can buy a radio frequency.
Thus no one needs to be *given* equal time on the internet.
Comment by Nancy Irving — Saturday, June 30, 2024 @ 5:45 am
Actually what you buy is not the radio frequency, but the right to broadcast on that frequency. The license granted by the FCC to broadcast in the public interest.
The problem with that is that “public interest” broadcasts are monumentally boaring. As a result most stations carry any public discussion programming in the wee hours of the weekend. That way ratings aren’t effected.
Then there’s the fact that it cost big bucks to run a radio station. That revenue is acquired by the selling of time to advertisers who will not advertise on a station that has no listners.
Guys like Limbaugh and Hannity pull in ratings. Modest but steady enough to deliver the advertisers. Apparently the Air America types did not.
Comment by Ken Mabry — Saturday, June 30, 2024 @ 4:02 pm
Then too. Broadcast stations..radio and TV have what they call a public file required by law. It is detailed information on what that station did over a years time say..to advance the community they are licensed to serve on the public airways.
“responsible parties” can view that file. If they decide the station has not lived up to it’s responsibility to operate in the public interest then those parties can challenge the station license. Perhaps even acquire that license to operate in the public interest. However you define public interest.
But you must have either deep pockets or good account executives to sell the content of your station if you hope to stay in business.
Comment by Ken Mabry — Saturday, June 30, 2024 @ 4:12 pm
I’ve been thinking a lot about fairness lately, although not the fairness doctrine, per se. It seems to me that fairness is often in the eye of the beholder and that, in reality, life is not fair. It never has been and it never will be.
Comment by Jan — Friday, June 29, 2024 @ 9:15 am
What is fair anyway? You heard the weirdo…
Comment by Dr. Steven Taylor — Friday, June 29, 2024 @ 9:18 am
I think the idea of the fairness doctrine coming back is probably rooted in the deep polarization of America. You state that there are more than 2 sides (conservative/liberal) to an issue, and ideally (theoretically) that’s true, and I would argue SHOULD be true. But in practicality, it seems to me that Americans are increasingly choosing sides and conforming to what are perceived to be those two ideologies more than anything. For good or for bad I think people are choosing sides, digging in, and staying there. I know a frightful number of people who vote on party and not priciple, not so much because they agree with everything their party says, but because they hate and are afraid of the other.
Were it not so, and were people on both sides not afraid of the other and concerned that the other wasn’t playing by the rules, we wouldn’t be talking about fairness doctrine at all.
I guess there may be more than 2 sides to an issue, but it seems anymore that there are only 2 that matter. . .
Comment by CPT D — Friday, June 29, 2024 @ 6:41 pm
Not that I necessarily disagree, but broadcast media are unlike, say, the internet in that the number of outlets is limited.
Anyone can start up a blog, but only a few can buy a radio frequency.
Thus no one needs to be *given* equal time on the internet.
Comment by Nancy Irving — Saturday, June 30, 2024 @ 5:45 am
Actually what you buy is not the radio frequency, but the right to broadcast on that frequency. The license granted by the FCC to broadcast in the public interest.
The problem with that is that “public interest” broadcasts are monumentally boaring. As a result most stations carry any public discussion programming in the wee hours of the weekend. That way ratings aren’t effected.
Then there’s the fact that it cost big bucks to run a radio station. That revenue is acquired by the selling of time to advertisers who will not advertise on a station that has no listners.
Guys like Limbaugh and Hannity pull in ratings. Modest but steady enough to deliver the advertisers. Apparently the Air America types did not.
Comment by Ken Mabry — Saturday, June 30, 2024 @ 4:02 pm
Then too. Broadcast stations..radio and TV have what they call a public file required by law. It is detailed information on what that station did over a years time say..to advance the community they are licensed to serve on the public airways.
“responsible parties” can view that file. If they decide the station has not lived up to it’s responsibility to operate in the public interest then those parties can challenge the station license. Perhaps even acquire that license to operate in the public interest. However you define public interest.
But you must have either deep pockets or good account executives to sell the content of your station if you hope to stay in business.
Comment by Ken Mabry — Saturday, June 30, 2024 @ 4:12 pm