Lifelong Republican writes great editorial in today's Charlotte

[Esse Quam Videri]

Observer "One-Sided media are misinforming and dividing America"

I will post five paragraphs with a link to the article - sorry that you have to do a free registration -

I am going to drop him an Email and thank him for his words and tell him I hope other repugs will take the time to read them. Also will give him a link to DU and tell him this is where I get a lot of my info.



Do you think that America is fighting the war in Iraq to stop terrorism and promote democracy, and that we are accomplishing our mission? Or do you believe that the war in Iraq, based on lies and incompetently managed, has been a boon to worldwide terrorism and hurt America's leadership role throughout the world?

How about Hurricane Katrina? Is President George W. Bush masterminding the most comprehensive natural disaster response in the history of the nation? Or have his misaligned priorities led to levee and barrier island erosion that contributed to the flooding and deaths in New Orleans, and that the recovery effort is a corrupt boondoggle?

Have President Bush's tax breaks invigorated America's economy, providing jobs and income growth to average Americans? Or are the trillions of dollars of irresponsible tax breaks for wealthy Americans and big corporations coupled with wasteful federal spending about to wreak havoc on America's economy?

From facts to propaganda

Most Americans believe that they have an honest and accurate perspective on politics, economics and news in general. Once upon a time this was true. The Federal Communications Commission used to require that broadcast licensees present controversial issues of public importance in a truly fair and balanced manner.In 1987, though, the FCC repealed the Fairness Doctrine. American media, once a public trust, have since evolved into something more akin to a propaganda machine.

If there is a divided America, red states vs. blue states, it is not so much because we have different perspectives on the same news. It is because we get, and sometimes only have access to, different news and information.


the whole article can be viewed at:

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/opinion/12870675.htm

[Esse Quam Videri]

1. More of the article

If there is a divided America, red states vs. blue states, it is not so much because we have different perspectives on the same news. It is because we get, and sometimes only have access to, different news and information.

If you believe the first of the pairs of statements in the opening paragraphs of this column, you get your news and form your opinions based on information from sources like Fox News, Rush Limbaugh and the Sinclair television stations. These sources are unabashedly biased in their support of the president and his policies. Sinclair affiliates, which reach 22 percent of the American public, are even required to take a pledge to not report critically on President Bush or the war in Iraq.

Alternatives vanish

Alternative or critical perspectives have no significant presence in American mass media anymore. Alternative mass media are vanishing. Six giant multi-national corporations control most of America's radio and television stations and newspapers.

These media conglomerate news sources are controlled by powerful economic and political forces. Their priority is not on acting in the public interest by reporting accurate and unbiased news. They follow corporate guidance and avoid controversy that might distract advertisers or viewers.

The war in Iraq provides an illustrative example. Certain information about the war is strictly controlled. We get the mind-numbing statistics on American soldiers killed in action almost daily. However, deaths of American civilians or Iraqi casualties, are not tallied. Photos of injured Americans or of the flag-draped coffins of American dead are taboo.

[Esse Quam Videri]

4. Most of the rest.....

Even domestic news on the war is limited.

Three weeks ago the largest anti-war demonstrations since Vietnam occurred in Washington, D.C. As many as 250,000 people gathered there, and many thousands more protested in other American cities. This should have been a big story, but in our own Charlotte Observer it merited just 213 words buried on page 4A.

The following day, a scant 400 pro-war marchers gathered in Washington. The Observer provided this small group with the exact same coverage.

Most Americans share the same values and given the same information would draw similar conclusions. We all require unbiased information to make accurately informed decisions about our politicians and our future.

For 50 years prior to 1987 America lived under regulations that required truly fair and balanced news reporting. The best thing we could do now for American democracy is bring back the Fairness Doctrine.

Unfortunately, given the current political environment, it is unlikely Congress will reinstate the Fairness Doctrine. In the absence of federal protection for our right to know, we each need to seek out varied news sources to make sure we have a broad perspective and accurate information.

[Esse Quam Videri]

8. The rest......

If you want to stay informed, subscribe to multiple newspapers. I get The Charlotte Observer, New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Look to international sources like the Economist magazine and internet resources like TruthOut and AlterNet. In your television and radio viewing, balance commercial news with National Public Radio and Public Broadcasting Service television. Don't stick to one channel or paper and think you have an accurate perspective. Everyone has an agenda. Make your agenda being in touch with reality.

Bob

Perkowitz


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Observer community columnist Bob Perkowitz of Charlotte is a businessman, environmentalist and lifelong Republican. Write him c/o The Observer, P.O. Box 30308, Charlotte, NC 28230-0308, or at [e-mail].

[Hissyspit]

20. The Fayetteville Observer carried coverage of the D.C. peace march on

page 12A!! Cut a bunch of text from the AP article. Then they carried the pro-Bush rally coverage on 3A! (The article did in fact make the pro-war rally look pretty bad.)

[Tigress DEM]

32. 500,000 - 600,000 in DC on 9/24 - 370 civil disobedience arrests 9/26

Even when we try to be informed....

But still, the heart of the matter remains he is on target. Lies and coverups are not helping America.

[chalky]

23. Good lord. I hadn't heard about the Sinclair "pledge".

n/t

[liberal N proud]

2. Great Read

[Boomer]

3. Nominated

How refreshing: A Republican who is not drinking the Kool-aid.

[Esse Quam Videri]

5. Let's all drop him a note of thanks?

[AllyCat]

15. I did send him an email

I expressed among other things that expecting the truth from a supposedly free press should be a non-partisan issue.

Thanks for the heads up.

[McKenzie]

6. He is bang on the nail

about corporate influence on media editorial policy. Someone that close to how the media operates knows what's really going on.

I don't need to say this but I will...an unbiased media is the key to an open and informed society. Those who want to distort the truth know it only too well.

[Supersedeas]

11. Corporatism is Bushish

[Hissyspit]

22. When people were calling him a conservative, I always answered that

he was closer to a corporatist.

[texpatriot2004]

7. Great Article, substance and well written Thanks for this post

"...it is unlikely Congress will reinstate the Fairness Doctrine. In the absence of federal protection for our right to know, we each need to seek out varied news sources to make sure we have a broad perspective and accurate information."

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/opinion/12870675.htm

[CottonBear]

9. "Make your agenda being in touch with reality."

I like this sentence. The American people should heed the writer's advice.

[blm]

10. That would make a GREAT motto for DU.

Let's get this article on the FRONT PAGE.

[yodermon]

12. Kicked & Nom'd

For my hometown Knight-Ridder paper.
:toast:

[RedEarth]

13. Here is some information on the .... Fairness Doctrine

The policy of the United States Federal Communications Commission that became known as the "Fairness Doctrine" is an attempt to ensure that all coverage of controversial issues by a broadcast station be balanced and fair. The FCC took the view, in 1949, that station licensees were "public trustees," and as such had an obligation to afford reasonable opportunity for discussion of contrasting points of view on controversial issues of public importance. The Commission later held that stations were also obligated to actively seek out issues of importance to their community and air programming that addressed those issues. With the deregulation sweep of the Reagan Administration during the 1980s, the Commission dissolved the fairness doctrine.

This doctrine grew out of concern that because of the large number of applications for radio station being submitted and the limited number of frequencies available, broadcasters should make sure they did not use their stations simply as advocates with a singular perspective. Rather, they must allow all points of view. That requirement was to be enforced by FCC mandate.

From the early 1940s, the FCC had established the "Mayflower Doctrine," which prohibited editorializing by stations. But that absolute ban softened somewhat by the end of the decade, allowing editorializing only if other points of view were aired, balancing that of the station's. During these years, the FCC had established dicta and case law guiding the operation of the doctrine.

In ensuing years the FCC ensured that the doctrine was operational by laying out rules defining such matters as personal attack and political editorializing (1967). In 1971 the Commission set requirements for the stations to report, with their license renewal, efforts to seek out and address issues of concern to the community. This process became known as "Ascertainment of Community Needs," and was to be done systematically and by the station management.

The fairness doctrine ran parallel to Section 315 of the Communications Act of 1937 which required stations to offer "equal opportunity" to all legally qualified political candidates for any office if they had allowed any person running in that office to use the station. The attempt was to balance--to force an even handedness. Section 315 exempted news programs, interviews and documentaries. But the doctrine would include such efforts. Another major difference should be noted here: Section 315 was federal law, passed by Congress. The fairness doctrine was simply FCC policy.

The FCC fairness policy was given great credence by the 1969 U.S. Supreme Court case of Red Lion Broadcasting Co., Inc. v. FCC. In that case, a station in Pennsylvania, licensed by Red Lion Co., had aired a "Christian Crusade" program wherein an author, Fred J. Cook, was attacked. When Cook requested time to reply in keeping with the fairness doctrine, the station refused. Upon appeal to the FCC, the Commission declared that there was personal attack and the station had failed to meet its obligation. The station appealed and the case wended its way through the courts and eventually to the Supreme Court. The court ruled for the FCC, giving sanction to the fairness doctrine.

http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/F/htmlF/fairnessdoct/fairnessdoct.htm

[ms liberty]

14. Recommending...

this is the daily that covers my market (foothills, near Statesville & Hickory). They do a pretty good job in general. Sending him an email of thanks. IMO, this is THE most important issue - because if the media is allowed to distort the facts, the people will never know the truth. The second most important issue is campaign finance reform - the real thing, not the psuedo-reform crap they've come up with.
Without those 2 things, we the people will never get control of ANY of the other problems.

[TalkingDog]

21. Hey, Neighbor...Iredell Co. Native here. Glad you're at the Par-tay! n/t

[checks-n-balances]

28. Hey, I'm Iredell-born myself & lived in NC through high school

Great to see such an important & honest piece from The Observer, isn't it?

I learned about Esse Quam Videri in 7th grade NC History class, and seeing it again today made me realize how much we need this in our "image is everything" society of today.

Edited because I tried to write the NC motto from memory & misspelled it!

[lildreamer316]

24. Jamestown here.

make sure y'all check in at the NC forum; it dosen't move much but sometimes we have get togethers or protests.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

36. Hey there, fellow North Carolinians!

Come join us in the Democratic Underground North Carolina forum!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=170

:hi: from Chapel Hill!

[GuvWurld]

16. The Cold Civil War and the Blueprint For Peaceful Revolution

Those falsely claiming to be the legitimate U.S. government have intentionally and maliciously divided We The People into a Cold Civil War. This will continue, and degrade, unless and until We The People unite against our common fascist foe. Read Blueprint For Peaceful Revolution.

[garthranzz]

17. My letter to Mr. Perkowitz

I found a link (http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/opinion/128... )to your column regarding the Fairness Doctrine and the biased nature of news on the DemocraticUnderground.com site. As one who, when I taught freshman composition, advocated reading across the spectrum, from George Will to Maureen Dowd, I want to thank you for your words. If the college students come unprepared for critical thought or logical analysis, what can we expect of the electorate at large? Our country makes progress when people of good will, regardless of philosophy, debate differences in principle and reach a compromise that, inevitably, satisfies none but benefits all. (Was that not the idea behind the separation of powers, two legislative houses, etc.) The current 'rule by propaganda' has ended that.

All citizens have the obligation, as you point out, to be informed, to have access to both sides of an issue, to have the tools to identify the facts, which in turn should influence policy. Ideology may provide a framework for policy, but should never be used to alter the truth.

Your words - "Everyone has an agenda. Make your agenda being in touch with reality" - give voice to the motto of my classroom.

Thank you.

[AX10]

18. Great Read!

Nominated!

[wildeyed]

19. Thanks for posting!

I turned to the op/ed page today and intended to read this, but got too busy. I would have missed it if you hadn't posted it.

Boy, he really nailed it. If we can ever wrest control from these corporatist wingnuts, freeing the media is one of the first things that needs to happen. We are lucky to have seen past the smoke and mirrors, but not everyone can.

[MarsThe Cat]

25. free registrations aren't a problem-

another account for Bob Bob's of Bobville, Canada, and at [e-mail]

[spooky3]

29. see also www.bugmenot.com

[Raksha]

26. Reinstating the Fairness Doctrine should be a major campaign issue...

...for the Dems in 2006. And it should be framed as what it is: a national security issue. It is just plain flat-out dangerous for the populace to be so misinformed.

[Vox_Reason]

27. Couldn't agree more.

It's right up there with verified voting and lobbyist and crony influence on elections.

[MarsThe Cat]

34. how much has the shitty cruiseship deal that FEMA signed-

been brought up by the Major Media outlets?

It should be common knowledge to the taxpayers paying for it.

BUT- cruiselines are BIG tv/print customers- don't want to piss them off.

[Griffy]

30. as I said before... its fact vs. fiction !! 2 streams of information!

its the propaganda !! I am focusing on this when i talk to people about whats going on... its the key to it all!

[Tigress DEM]

31. Hoo Hoo! Yah Yah. Hoo Hoo!

Hoo Hoo! Yah Yah. Hoo Hoo! :woohoo:
:bounce:

Hoo Hoo! Yah Yah. Hoo Hoo! :woohoo:

:bounce:
Hoo Hoo! Yah Yah. Hoo Hoo! :woohoo:

[bluedawg12]

33. Raygun repealed the Fairness Doctrine

and that opened the door to radialright wing talk radio- because they did not have to present fair and balanced opposing view points.

In keeping with Orwellian speak- Faux news abducted fair and balanced of all things.

It will be interesting to see what response the article gets from the local folk.

[AllyCat]

35. I got a response from the author for my email!!

Here is his email letter with some wingnuts, but mostly supporters. He included my comment about the Fox News SC case:

Greetings,

Thanks much for your email in response to my column in Tuesday's Charlotte Observer. I have received about three dozen responses so far - most of them far longer and more thoughtful than usual. 5 people think I'm a nuts or a communist, 2 provided additional insights and the rest were positive comments. Below are excerpts from some of those emails for your insight. I'm sorry I can't respond personally to all of you. Keep the comments coming. My next column is on November 8th.

Bob Perkowitz


COLUMN COMMENTS:

It amazes me that despite much evidence to the contrary about Iraq, the state of our economy, evidence of corruption, CIA leaks, etc, many Bush supporters not only refuse to acknowledge evidence of these problems, they get angry at anyone trying to bring such information to light!

-
As for the war protest, 250,000? Right. And, I wish they would have had more media coverage. My hunch was because this protest was nothing but a bunch of loonies who for the most part are a bunch of clueless liberal, fringe wingnuts.

-
I READ YOU OPINION PIECE THIS MORNING. THE FAIRNESS DOCTRINE SOUNDS CRAZY TO ME FIRST OF ALL, WHO WOULD DECIDE WHAT CONSTITUTES A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE? SOME ARE OBVIOUS AND SOME ARE NOT. THE FAIRNESS DOCTRINE SOUNDS LIKE CENSORSHIP TO ME.

-
You need to investigate the leadership of that antiwar rally. They represented A.N.S.W.E.R., Ramsey Clark, and all the other anti-capitalists, pro-communist groups that go around the world at every World Bank meetings. It was a non-event and The Observer was correct to put in on 4a and then give the pro-America group equal space.

-
>From the Fox News Supreme Court case where anchors were fired for FAILING to report a fictitious story (Fox won with the court saying they had no legally binding agreement to report the truth) to the daily spin of what is really happening with the war, to the failure to cover election problems in 2004 unless it benefits the those in power, I am astonished at how our somnolent and compliant press has manipulated public perception about a pack of lies.

-
I would like to add to the large amounts of fan-mail I sincerely hope you have received in response to your column “One-Sided media are misinforming and dividing America” in the Charlotte Observer. You have correctly identified one of the many ailments to inflict our democratic society in recent years - namely the vacuum of true accountability in government.

-
As one who, when I taught freshman composition, advocated reading across the spectrum, from George Will to Maureen Dowd, I want to thank you for your words. If the college students come unprepared for critical thought or logical analysis, what can we expect of the electorate at large? Our country makes progress when people of good will, regardless of philosophy, debate differences in principle and reach a compromise that, inevitably, satisfies none but benefits all.

-
Thank you for taking time to write about the fairness doctrine. In my view this is the main cause (but not only) for splitting of Red and Blue America. There are people of good conscience on both sides of the aisle but you wouldn't know that based on talk radio and the nightly news. Since the people own the airwaves and broadcasters only license them, shouldn't they be required to offer fairness?

-
Suggesting that NPR, PBS, or the New York Times are alternate news sources and will result in balance, is just the final evidence that you are either trying to hide the truth or just totally oblivious of the facts. If you are interested in the truth or at least hearing an alternate viewpoint, I strongly suggest Weapons of Mass Distortion by L. Brent Bozell III or anything by Ann Coulter.

-
Your belittle Sinclair News, but I ask you, which side had more documented factual information on their side, the Swift Boat Veterans or John Kerry and his supporters?