"The Fairness Doctrine": Free Speech or Equal Time?

Question

Talk radio in America is predominantly right-wing. Many Democrats are floating the idea of bringing back the Fairness Doctrine, which requires equal time on talk radio for opposite sides of the political aisle. Conservatives bash the idea on First Amendment grounds. Liberals say Americans are better informed when exposed to equal portions of both sides of an issue. Where do you stand?

If "yes" on equal time, should that "fairness" be applied to all media or just right-wing media?

Wilkow Conservative asked, "Why do liberals always insist on destroying businesses and making more people jobless and dependent on their socialism in order to survive?

You answered your own question : )

Answer 1

Talk radio is still out there because people listen. It is called good business and the free market. The problem is liberals cannot compete with conservative talk radio because they do not have new ideas - they just regurgitate whatever the newest "talking point" is, so they cannot get people to listen. Look at Air America - it was funded by liberals, and yet it is still going broke - because people do not listen!!!!!!! We are a free society, not a communist society, as liberals wish us to be, therefore, free speech and the free market should not be prohibited.

Answer 2

I am old enough to remember the Fairness Doctrine. The media in general used to have less of a bias than today. The "liberal media" tends to be slanted toward the left only on social issues. All media from talk radio to the major TV networks tend to favor the big business-elitist point of view on economic issues.

Talk radio always had strong opinions but with the Fairness Doctrine forced them to present a variety of views. Basically, you have Limbaugh, Hannity and others reading the talking points provided by Republican strategists.

The public will benefit if the media which includes the right-wing talking heads is forced to present all points of view.

Answer 3

I’m firmly against it because there is nothing fair about the fairness doctrine. There’s why: If the liberals could make Air America and similar radio formats profitable, they wouldn't be whining about, a fairness doctrine. The fact of the matter is that Conservative talk radio is fair and away more successful and profitable than any of the liberal –owned and operated newspapers around the country, who are all bleeding red ink at alarming rates, in part because their average demographic is 53 years old. Most people are far too busy to read papers any more and are turning to talk radio, which is why it's growing in leaps and bounds over newspapers. Follow the money and you will see that fairness thing is just a charade by the democrat-controlled congress and the left wing media money to try and throw their weight around. Don't fall for it. We need to read between the lines here and let the free market forces take care of this issue and keep the government and partisan politics out of it.

Answer 4

"The Fairness Doctrine" isn't..... The world today is completely different from the time in the 30s when the doctrine was first implemented. There are many more radio stations (even FM which is entirely new) there is TV, the Internet. Under this supposed "Fairness" *EACH* radio station would have to provide time to *EACH* group or person that felt they needed to provide an opposing view to *ANYTHING* the cost would be prohibitive. There would be *NO* view of any kind presented and talk radio and soon radio it self. Talk radio is a business... it is open to *ANYONE* but it must have listeners to get advertisers. The reason there are more Conservative radio talk host is that is what sells.... sorry liberals are losers and people don't like listening to them. In any cast there are plenty of other outlets for other points of view... But this is the main reason not to kill talk radio.... If it weren't for talk radio the nation would likely never have known about the Amnesty Bill that Congress tried to push off on us. Think twice before you allow congress to shut down another outlet of free speech

Answer 5

I am against more and bigger government, and the government usually sucks everytime they try to get involved in peoples lives. Most talk radio statons will go under if the fariness doctrine succeeds because liberals are no good at talk radio since they are just about talking points and not facts and rational thought and intellectual honesty. Becasue of there genral failure at talk radio forcing an owner to put them on will ave a negative effect on ratings and if ratings get too low advertisers will go elsewhere and the station goes under. Why do liberals always insist on destroying businesses and making more people jobless and dependent on their socialism in order to survive? Better yet why are so many people blind to what liberals are trying to do to this country and stand up and say enough is enough?

Answer 6

No secret that liberals do no longer particularly love "loose speech" whilst it truly is not going their way. examine out any debatable conservative attempting to furnish a lecture at a school campus and you will see what I advise. Liberals hate that. of direction, i think of Limbaugh and the rest could be reigned in somewhat because of the fact they're merchandising human beings a twisted invoice of things. Too undesirable Lewis Black and Dennis Miller do no longer do a coach at the same time. which would be staggering.

Answer 7

It should be called the un-fairness doctrine. There is nothing in the US Constitution that says anyone has a right to fairness. The main stream media, both TV and newspapers, are biased to the left. Conservative talk radio serves as a balance.
I am a conservative. I want to listen to conservative talk radio. I don't want to listen to liberals. Radio programs are driven by audiences and advertising dollars. It is strictly private enterprise.

Answer 8

Without the "Fairness Doctrine" we have radio stations who are nothing more than Republican rhetoric outlets when they are licensed to be fair and balanced.

An example: the largest and most powerful radio station in Wisconsin had up to 8 hrs of conservative programing that not only spewed non stop conservative views but had an open mike for any conservative candidates. This was not extended to the opposition and in fact was giving something of value to the Republican Party.

It is not about free speech, it is about contrasting views that would question the wordsmiths who have gotten wealthy and influential.

The conservative talk show hosts are currently circling their wagons as their livelihood is in jeopardy. (as well it should be)

Answer 9

on the one hand i can see where a person with a radio station should be able to choose if both sides get to talk but on the other hand i think both sides should get a fair say.


so maybe a whole new radio station should created for just this purpose so that no one has to feel that their right to free speech is being invaded.

Answer 10

If you owned a radio station, should it not be your right to decide what programming is on your radio station?