If Democrats fail to address the Fairness Doctrine

[eagler]

then they deserve the pounding they are going to take over the RW controlled airwaves.

[catzies]

1. Yes, amen & hallelujah. They MUST reinstate the Fairness Doctrine.

n/t

[Warpy]

2. They'll never be able to override the veto

and trust me, the party that has gained power and held onto it through nonstop propaganda with no alternative message is not going to give up that privilege.

They never, ever think the shoe will be on the other foot.

[eagler]

4. Vrey much worth fighting for

nt

[Emit]

3. Agreed 100%! n/t

[MonkeyFunk]

5. It won't have much of an effect today.....

it only regulates broadcast stations. That means the cable nets can still do whatever they want, and satellite radio can do whatever they want.

It won't regulate newspapers or the internet.

It would also mean that Air America radio be forced to present "both sides" of an issue.

[teamster633]

6. Agreed.

The current situation is in dire need of remedy. It would put FAUX nEWS in the awkward position of having to do one of two things: either cut their broadcasting in half or advocate for the adoption of a 48 hour day.

[MADem]

7. Not their cable arm, though--just those broadcast affiliates, and those are not the problem

Cable Faux would stay the same. You pay for that, you see--even if you get it with your basic cable.

The Fairness Doctrine, sadly, is dead. Reagan killed it.

[Minnesota_Lib]

8. Media consolidation is the real problem. We need to reinstate the regulations that guarded...

...against allowing the majority of the media to be controlled by just a handful of corporations, and then give those that are "over the limit" a year to divest those extra holdings.

IMO

[yurbud]

9. I would also add not allowing other kinds of conglomerates to buy media

separate NBC from GE, and no more of tobacco companies or other corporations seeking to shield themselves from accountability.

[bluewave]

10. Fairness Doctrine and media consolidation: comprehensive media reform

Wait until we win a few more House and Senate seats, then the Presidency. Then package it with lobbying reform. /Ifeelevil

[Marr]

11. "If the media is so 'liberal', why are you against the Fairness Doctrine"?

I've yet to hear a right-winger respond to that question without stammering and changing the subject.

This is a fight worth having, because the framing is simple, the goal is worthwhile, and the fight itself demolishes one of the right-wing's central tenets; that the media has a liberal bias.

[eagler]

12. Bingo!

The Fairness Doctrine worked for about 40 years - along with some media regulation. Certainly, some things would need to be updated, but if there is ever again to be competition over the airwaves - the most pervasive media, then we need a fairness doctrine.