Fairness Doctrine

Will Obama revive the Fairness Doctrine?

It seems to be a foregone conclusion that America is about elect its first Black President. The ubiquitous “Hope and Change” mantra is ambitious in its reach. One change that may raise some hackles is the revival of the Fairness Doctrine.

Brian Anderson notes, “the language of “fairness” is seductive. Many Americans seem to agree.

A Rasmussen poll last summer found that fully 47 percent of respondents backed the idea of requiring radio and television stations to offer “equal amounts of conservative and liberal political commentary,” with 39 percent opposed.

Anderson further notes that there would be a certain struggle involved in this resurgance of imposed restrictions on commercial free speech. Obviously, talk radio heavies would feel he hit. However there are many other issues to be considered.

He and most Democrats want to expand broadcasters’ public-interest duties. One such measure would be to impose greater “local accountability” on them - requiring stations to carry more local programming whether the public wants it or not. The reform would entail setting up community boards to make their demands known when station licenses come up for renewal. The measure is clearly aimed at national syndicators like Clear Channel that offer conservative shows. It’s a Fairness Doctrine by subterfuge.

Obama also wants to relicense stations every two years (not eight, as is the case now), so these monitors would be a constant worry for stations. Finally, the Democrats also want more minority-owned stations and plan to intervene in the radio marketplace to ensure that outcome.

It’s worth noting, as Jesse Walker does in the latest Reason magazine, that Trinity Church, the controversial church Obama attended for many years, is heavily involved in the media-reform movement, having sought to restore the Fairness Doctrine, prevent media consolidation and deny licenses to stations that refuse to carry enough children’s programming.