Talk Radio's Last Stand? Shock Jocks Fret Over Return Of Fairness Doctrine

[babylonsister]

Talk Radio's Last Stand?

By Rory O'Connor, AlterNet. Posted June 11, 2008.

Talk radio "shock jocks" are fretting publicly about the supposed return of the long-defunct Fairness Doctrine.

Editor's note: Make sure to check out Rory O'Connor's new book, "Shock Jocks: Hate Speech and Talk Radio" (AlterNet Books, 2008).


The email alert read "Breaking from Newsmax.com," the conservative online news site that also publishes Newsmax Magazine. One item in particular caught my attention -- "Special: Will President Obama Ban O'Reilly, Rush?"

One click, however, reveals this "breaking" news is simply old wine poured into a "special" new anti-Obama bottle: a ridiculous recycled report titled "Talk Radio's Last Stand," offered with a subscription to Newsmax magazine and a "Dynamo Emergency World Band Radio" -- all for just $35!

Leading hard-right conservatives, led by their talk radio "shock jock" troops, have been worrying aloud about the supposed return of the long-defunct Fairness Doctrine ever since their stunning success last year in defeating bipartisan immigration reform. The latest salvo is the Newsmax report, headlined "Battle for Talk Radio: Powerful Foes Want to End the Gabfest," which cleverly combines the usual talk radio tropes of pugnacity and victimization. The text of the "special offer" supplies the details:

"The 2008 election has yet to be decided, but one thing is clear: If the Democrats win the White House, expect an all-out attack on talk radio. Political talk, as we know it, could end. If they win, Rush, Imus, Savage, Beck, and dozens of other major hosts will be muzzled by using federal regulations to control political talk. So, what's their plan of attack?"

As Newsmax sees it, "leading liberals in Congress, the Democratic presidential candidates, and even some Republicans speak openly of their plans to end conservative talk radio using federal regulations. Their weapon: a revived Fairness Doctrine, which would once again require stations to air divergent points of view -- a clever ruse that makes station owners leery of airing controversial talk-radio hosts, fearing lawsuits and federal sanctions. With a new Fairness Doctrine, you could see many top conservative radio hosts canned."

more...

http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/87825/?page=entire

[Vogon_Glory]

1. More Like Old Whine In New Bottles

More like old whine in new bottles. Talk show jocks are a major component in the right-wing propaganda machine, and requiring the lying, distorting wretches to give equal time to opposing viewpoints would drastically cut their power to work the gullible into a frenzy.

I really do hope that the next Congress and President reinstates the Fairness Doctrine whether Rush, Hannity, O'Reilly, the Savage/Weiner, and the rest of the rogue's gallery likes it or not.

:evilgrin:

:dem: