Ok so I (for the time being) have a little time on my hands… And have used some of the time to read a lot of newspapers and magazines. I have seen a few articles about the Fairness Doctrine pop up and I find the course that some lawmakers want to follow a bit alarming. So I wrote one of my Senators. I advise any who cares to do the same. Radio is already on the ropes and the Fairness Doctrine could be a fatal blow. For what it’s worth I have include the text of my letter to Bernie below.
When I get a reply, I’ll post it.
Privet Citizen,
Louie Manno
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Dear Senator Sanders:
I am concerned about the reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine. Imposing regulations for opinion content would all but eliminate an important part of the national dialogue, namely, talk radio. Any concerns in Washington about a lack of balance in American media and its influence on the citizens should be easily assuaged by the results of the recent historic elections.
I agree with you that deregulation has made a real mess out of the broadcast industry. The current ownership rules have allowed large corporations to ride a bubble, which has inexorably burst. The lack of opinion diversity on radio is not the problem. Individual Americans know what they believe, and they have numerous media sources from which to buttress or expand those beliefs. No, the 800-pound gorilla on radio’s sofa is the lack of local coverage. The energies of our lawmakers should be spent drafting legislation that benefits everyone. Surely requiring broadcasters to offer some acceptable amount of local issues coverage would be universally beneficial.
If the Fairness Doctrine were reestablished, it would put government officials in the position of content arbiters; a very dicey business. The federal government acting in such a capacity seems counterintuitive to me.
As an alternative to regulating broadcast content, consider requiring a disclaimer at the beginning of each opinion-based broadcast. That will help frame the context, and from there, Americans can decide for themselves.
Senator Sanders, I know that you have been a strong advocate for more local coverage by broadcasters, but .I’m very interested to know where you stand on the Fairness Doctrine.
Respectfully,
Louie Manno
When I get a reply, I’ll post it.
Privet Citizen,
Louie Manno
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Dear Senator Sanders:
I am concerned about the reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine. Imposing regulations for opinion content would all but eliminate an important part of the national dialogue, namely, talk radio. Any concerns in Washington about a lack of balance in American media and its influence on the citizens should be easily assuaged by the results of the recent historic elections.
I agree with you that deregulation has made a real mess out of the broadcast industry. The current ownership rules have allowed large corporations to ride a bubble, which has inexorably burst. The lack of opinion diversity on radio is not the problem. Individual Americans know what they believe, and they have numerous media sources from which to buttress or expand those beliefs. No, the 800-pound gorilla on radio’s sofa is the lack of local coverage. The energies of our lawmakers should be spent drafting legislation that benefits everyone. Surely requiring broadcasters to offer some acceptable amount of local issues coverage would be universally beneficial.
If the Fairness Doctrine were reestablished, it would put government officials in the position of content arbiters; a very dicey business. The federal government acting in such a capacity seems counterintuitive to me.
As an alternative to regulating broadcast content, consider requiring a disclaimer at the beginning of each opinion-based broadcast. That will help frame the context, and from there, Americans can decide for themselves.
Senator Sanders, I know that you have been a strong advocate for more local coverage by broadcasters, but .I’m very interested to know where you stand on the Fairness Doctrine.
Respectfully,
Louie Manno
And more local coverage means more jobs.