Pelosi supports reinstating the "Fairness Doctrine"

[rebeldave]

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=27185#continueA

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently admitted to supporting bringing back the "Fairness Doctrine" which would force radio stations to grant equal time to anyone wanting to present opposing viewpoints to political radio programs. It is no secret that the vast majority of talk radio programs have a strong conservative slant, and that is why Pelosi is taking aim at them. Providing equal time is a very expensive endeavor for smaller radio stations, and instead of taking that kind of hit, many are likely to drop Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and other hosts that would likely generate requests for equal time.

[Methuser]

Air America is the alternative to talk radio. Unfortunately it's boring and not simple enough. All of their hosts are boring and have monotone voices. Therefore it has no ratings.

Liberals need people who have a talent for taking a simple unilateral subject and repeatedly beating that dead horse in 1000 different ways for 3 hours a day and then they would have more listeners.
It works for Rush And Hannity.

[Spike Lee]

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=27185#continueA

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently admitted to supporting bringing back the "Fairness Doctrine" which would force radio stations to grant equal time to anyone wanting to present opposing viewpoints to political radio programs. It is no secret that the vast majority of talk radio programs have a strong conservative slant, and that is why Pelosi is taking aim at them. Proving equal time is a very expensive endeavor for smaller radio stations, and instead of taking that kind of hit, many are likely to drop Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and other hosts that would likely generate requests for equal time.

As much as I would like fat ass and stupid to be dropped, I thinkt this is a waste of time. I think Edward R. Murrow thought that the fairness doctrine was kinda ludicrous since some sides were just wrong. IE Joe McCarthy.

[GALLIENVS AVG]

How can a talk show be "forced" to do this though?

[Spike Lee]

How can a talk show be "forced" to do this though?

Standards and Practices, FEC fines

[Methuser]

How can a talk show be "forced" to do this though?

The show itself wouldn't have to show both sides. But whatever network has a show with one side has to then have a program with the other side.

I think it's a bad idea because in todays world everyone will come oout of the woodwork and feel that they should have the right to be heard also.

can you imagine if Shirley Phelps had a 1 hour show every day? It would be like a train wreck. You know it's bad but you have to listen anyway.

The fairness doctrine in todays world would be a nightmare.

[Spike Lee]

Air America is the alternative to talk radio. Unfortunately it's boring and not simple enough. All of their hosts are boring and have monotone voices. Therefore it has no ratings.

Liberals need people who have a talent for taking a simple unilateral subject and repeatedly beating that dead horse in 1000 different ways for 3 hours a day and then they would have more listeners.
It works for Rush And Hannity.

I don't like what the right has done and simply simplfiy their arguments. Because of that, they made it possible for misinformation to flout about.

[Methuser]

I don't like what the right has done and simply simplfiy their arguments. Because of that, they made it possible for misinformation to flout about.
You're preachin' to the choir brother. It's propaganda in its purest form. This is why I am so frustrated and outspoken about politics. If it were the other way around and the far left were doing these things I would be and have been just as upset.

[rebeldave]

You're preachin' to the choir brother. It's propaganda in its purest form. This is why I am so frustrated and outspoken about politics. If it were the other way around and the far left were doing these things I would be and have been just as upset.

And Jack Cafferty doesn't do the exact same things?

[Methuser]

And Jack Cafferty doesn't do the exact same things?

Does Jack Cafferty have a radio show? I don't watch him on TV.

I watch Keith Olbermann when I can.

The only talk radio in pittsburgh is 104.7fm and they have

Quinn & Rose (3 hours morning)
Rush Limbaugh (3 hours noon)
Sean Hannity (3 hours Dinner)
Michael Savage (3 hours night)
Jerry Doyle (3 hours late night)

They are all very right leaning and usually have the same talking points for 15 hours a day.

I call it the propaganda station.

[TFS]

The problem is this: who determines what slant a program has if any, and what "opposing slant" must be provided to it?

[Methuser]

The problem is this: who determines what slant a program has if any, and what "opposing slant" must be provided to it?

Wow we agree on something.


I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.

[Mr. Heskey]

Bull. Fucking. Shit.


This is a violation of freedom of speech if I've ever heard of it.

[ThoughtCriminal]

I think it's a good idea, but in practice it will be pretty useless. The right leaning radio shows will just circumvent the doctrine by having more "Hannity and Colmes" type scenarios where one viewpoint is loud and aggressive, while the other is timid and gets walked on to the point of being virtually non existent. That way, the networks can technically claim to be "fair".

[rebeldave]

Does Jack Cafferty have a radio show? I don't watch him on TV.

I watch Keith Olbermann when I can.

The only talk radio in pittsburgh is 104.7fm and they have

Quinn & Rose (3 hours morning)
Rush Limbaugh (3 hours noon)
Sean Hannity (3 hours Dinner)
Michael Savage (3 hours night)
Jerry Doyle (3 hours late night)

They are all very right leaning and usually have the same talking points for 15 hours a day.

I call it the propaganda station.

My point is that if you turn on some radio stations you are going to get conservative talk radio shows. If you turn on CNN, MSNBC, or most news networks that aren't Fox, you are going to get plenty of liberal propaganda. Notice how Pelosi is only targeting talk radio. I don't particularly agree with Rush or Savage or any hosts like that, but if you want to do away with conservative propaganda, you have to target liberal propaganda as well.

[rebeldave]

The problem is this: who determines what slant a program has if any, and what "opposing slant" must be provided to it?

It doesn't have to have a "slant" to fall under the fairness doctrine. All that has to happen is somebody goes down to the radio station and says "I don't agree with what this host was saying, and I want 3 hours of air time to explain why." and the station has to grant the time to him. It isn't hard to see how this would put a bunch of stations out of business.

[Methuser]

Wow I think that everyone in this thread agrees that the fairness doctrine is a horrible idea...

:uhoh:

Is this a sign of the end times?

[rebeldave]

Wow I think that everyone in this thread agrees that the fairness doctrine is a horrible idea...

:uhoh:

Is this a sign of the end times?

Then I would urge you all to contact your Congressman and let them know you support the proposed Broadcaster's Freedom Act (a bill to outlaw the fairness doctrine) by Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.).

[ROFLStomp]

GUYS lets give another round of applause to that fantastic Democratic-controlled Congress!!!Yay. Getting us out of Iraq, saving the economy, finding cheaper fuels, and screwing up radio stations because they have conservative bias!!!Yay!!.Wait, scratch about three of those.


I guess this means whenever we hear another bad story about the Iraq war we can actually hear a good one :).

[droogsteve]

During the 1980 campaign, TV stations weren't allowed to broadcast old Ronald Reagan movies because they would have had to provide Jimmie Carter with equal time.

So at least there was ONE positive thing about it.

[Mr. Heskey]

lol, the newspapers, television and internet are all arguably liberally biased media (especially the internet).

You don't hear conservative commentators complaining do you?

[Fungus Amungus]

This doctrine is idiotic. Let's FORCE people to say things which they don't want to say. Instead of letting the listener decide what he wants to listen too, he is focred to listen to the congress' version of fair. Fuck that noise.

[Deamatix]

While I think presenting both sides of an arguement on a program is in good taste, it's not something the government should be forcing.

[72 pet chicken]

GUYS lets give another round of applause to that fantastic Democratic-controlled Congress!!!Yay. Getting us out of Iraq, saving the economy, finding cheaper fuels, and screwing up radio stations because they have conservative bias!!!Yay!!.Wait, scratch about three of those.

you should look into how the house and senate work. its not enough to have the simple majority. without significant numbers and a bi-partisan president, its damn near impossible to get shit done.

[rebeldave]

you should look into how the house and senate work. its not enough to have the simple majority. without significant numbers and a bi-partisan president, its damn near impossible to get shit done.

A Republican is trying to pass a bill outlawing the fairness doctrine. The bill will not get voted on in 2008 because it is being blocked by Democrats. Its as simple as that. The Speaker of the House, a Democrat, just stated she wants to bring back the fairness doctrine. Sadly, some things still are completely partisan these days.

[chrisvet]

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=27185#continueA

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently admitted to supporting bringing back the "Fairness Doctrine" which would force radio stations to grant equal time to anyone wanting to present opposing viewpoints to political radio programs. It is no secret that the vast majority of talk radio programs have a strong conservative slant, and that is why Pelosi is taking aim at them. Providing equal time is a very expensive endeavor for smaller radio stations, and instead of taking that kind of hit, many are likely to drop Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and other hosts that would likely generate requests for equal time.

Although I hate the pro Isreal biased Western media, my solution is buy our own radio / TV stations / Networks instead of forcing any private enterprise to do things against their will.

We sold out 95% of our media to 6 mega corporations, WE are to blame Period.

[72 pet chicken]

A Republican is trying to pass a bill outlawing the fairness doctrine. The bill will not get voted on in 2008 because it is being blocked by Democrats. Its as simple as that. The Speaker of the House, a Democrat, just stated she wants to bring back the fairness doctrine. Sadly, some things still are completely partisan these days.

the fact still remains, without either side havnt an overwhelming majority, its hard for legislation to get passed. its a two way street bud.

[kevinsmith]

Liberal radio was tried, it was called Air America and it failed.
Whatever happened to the free market deciding on things? Now we need big daddy government to think for us because we can't handle it? Every day we inch closer and closer to the day we'll have to take this shit back over and start fresh. I better start stocking up on ammo.

[Spike Lee]

lol, the newspapers, television and internet are all arguably liberally biased media (especially the internet).

You don't hear conservative commentators complaining do you?

They are not liberally biased. Anyone who honestly believes such horseshit drivel needs to know this basic lesson:


The U.S. media are rapidly being monopolized by a dwindling number of parent corporations, all of whom have conservative economic agendas. The media are also critically dependent upon corporations for advertising. As a result, the news almost completely ignores corporate crime, as well as pro-labor and pro-consumer issues.

And the conservative commentators do bitch about it. Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity all bitch about it.

I'm not for this doctrine, but to the people saying how will it work, it was already something used for 20 years.

[Mr. Heskey]

They are not liberally biased. Anyone who honestly believes such horseshit drivel needs to know this basic lesson:




And the conservative commentators do bitch about it. Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity all bitch about it.

I'm not for this doctrine, but to the people saying how will it work, it was already something used for 20 years.

The internet isn't at all prone to being controlled by corporations. Besides, of the three major national news broadcasts, two are easily liberally biased (CNN and MSNBC)

[Spike Lee]

The internet isn't at all prone to being controlled by corporations. Besides, of the three major national news broadcasts, two are easily liberally biased (CNN and MSNBC)

The internet is a random voice.

And no on the last two.

[Mr. Heskey]

The internet is a random voice.


So what? Radio is just as free a media as the internet is.

And no on the last two


Ask any typical American. I'm pretty sure they'd say that CNN and MSNBC are left leaning and FOX is right leaning.


But then again, I'm just echoing what a lot of people who agree with me are saying. You just make it a point to call me and only me out on it. I'm not offended by it or anything. I'm actually flattered. I find it somewhat humorous.

[Spike Lee]

So what? Radio is just as free a media as the internet is.


No it isn't. Ever hear of clearchannel? Or any type of ownership within radio?
Ask any typical American. I'm pretty sure they'd say that CNN and MSNBC are left leaning and FOX is right leaning.

Argument ad-populus
But then again, I'm just echoing what a lot of people who agree with me are saying. You just make it a point to call me and only me out on it. I'm not offended by it or anything. I'm actually flattered. I find it somewhat humorous.

You surround yourself with people on that agree with you. Let alone it's just a sampling of people you hang out with.

And again:


The U.S. media are rapidly being monopolized by a dwindling number of parent corporations, all of whom have conservative economic agendas. The media are also critically dependent upon corporations for advertising. As a result, the news almost completely ignores corporate crime, as well as pro-labor and pro-consumer issues.

[Henkie]

CNN and MSNBC are left leaning and FOX is right leaning.

The truth is left leaning. :p

[ROFLStomp]

No it isn't. Ever hear of clearchannel? Or any type of ownership within radio?

Argument ad-populus


You surround yourself with people on that agree with you. Let alone it's just a sampling of people you hang out with.

And again:


The U.S. media are rapidly being monopolized by a dwindling number of parent corporations, all of whom have conservative economic agendas. The media are also critically dependent upon corporations for advertising. As a result, the news almost completely ignores corporate crime, as well as pro-labor and pro-consumer issues.

Dude. The media is liberal biased. How hard is this for you. Except for Fox, and obviously some conservative talk show hosts, the media is very liberal oriented. All bad bush, all bad war, all bad this, bad that, and all licking Obama's asshole.

But don't worry, because when the savior is elected into office he will condone the heretic conservative corporations and turn everything into lolipop land. I'll give you fox news, but everything else? Pfff.

[rebeldave]

Well, the so called media monopoly has nothing to do with the original purpose of the thread, but either way, it is a myth. The stat that is quoted over and over is that 6 companies own 90% of the media holdings in the United States. The thing that stat doesn't consider is that this statistic is not specifically referring to news source. For every CNN that AOL Time Warner owns, there are 10 Cartoon Networks, TBSs, New Line Cinemas, and other non news related media sources out there. In actuality, when it comes to news sources, today you have more choice than ever before.

newmillenniumresearch.org/archive/Final_Compaine_Paper_050205.pdf

[Spike Lee]

Well, the so called media monopoly has nothing to do with the original purpose of the thread, but either way, it is a myth. The stat that is quoted over and over is that 6 companies own 90% of the media holdings in the United States. The thing that stat doesn't consider is that this statistic is not specifically referring to news source. For every CNN that AOL Time Warner owns, there are 10 Cartoon Networks, TBSs, New Line Cinemas, and other non news related media sources out there. In actuality, when it comes to news sources, today you have more choice than ever before.

newmillenniumresearch.org/archive/Final_Compaine_Paper_050205.pdf

Bad Bush, Bad War is the reality. And no, I have never seen the standard report say Bush is evil. That statistic does cover the fact that it owns Cartoon Network and TBSs. It doesn't matter thogh, because each is owned by a major company.

Fox News = News Corp.
MSNBC = GE
ABC News = Disney
CBS = Viacom
CNN = AOL/Time Warner

Studies have shown journalists tend to be more liberal, but no study has proven that they give their personal bias to the news. On the other hand, who do engage in noisy editorializing lean heavily to the right.

The closest thing to bias is invetigative reports. But those tend to focus on one question or contraversy. Now it does tend to be a problem when one subject or party is ignored and the other isn't.

[rebeldave]

Bad Bush, Bad War is the reality. And no, I have never seen the standard report say Bush is evil. That statistic does cover the fact that it owns Cartoon Network and TBSs. It doesn't matter thogh, because each is owned by a major company.

Fox News = News Corp.
MSNBC = GE
ABC News = Disney
CBS = Viacom
CNN = AOL/Time Warner

Studies have shown journalists tend to be more liberal, but no study has proven that they give their personal bias to the news. On the other hand, who do engage in noisy editorializing lean heavily to the right.

The closest thing to bias is invetigative reports. But those tend to focus on one question or contraversy. Now it does tend to be a problem when one subject or party is ignored and the other isn't.

I have seen absolutely no evidence that these companies are having any influence on what is being reported. In fact, one news piece I saw on the NBC nightly news sticks out in my mind for giving equal time to viewpoints opposite of the ones their parent company holds. NBC was doing a story about how Greenpeace was blocking GE from building a wind farm off the cape in Massachusetts, and while NBC probably wouldn't have even covered the story if GE wasn't the parent corporation, they had a Greenpeace spokesman on to outline why they were opposing GE in this. But that is beside my point. My point is that these massive media corporations usually only have one news source for each media form. It's not like you cannot find a news source anywhere outside of the 6 big media corporations. Like I said, you have more choices today as to where you get your news than ever before.

If you don't want to get your info from any of the Big 6 providers, you are free to check out the television, radio, and print publications of some of these providers: Cox Communications, Gannett, ClearChannel, The Washington Post Company, The New York Times Company, Scripps, Belo, Raycom, The Hearst Corporation, Sinclair Broadcasting Group, Tribune Company, CableVision, Morris Communications, or any number of other media outlets. I could go on, but that is a short list of some of the major media providers in America that you can turn to. The Big 6 probably provide 99% of entertainment media sources, but when it comes to news, the field is wide open.