McClatchy : Congress braces for fight over Fairness Doctrine

[babylonsister]

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/17670.html

Congress braces for fight over Fairness Doctrine
By Rob Hotakainen | McClatchy Newspapers


WASHINGTON — After conservative radio talk show hosts helped bury an immigration bill, Republican Mississippi Sen. Trent Lott complained that "talk radio is running America."

Lott suggested a remedy that immediately got talk-show hosts talking: He suggested bringing back the Fairness Doctrine, which would force broadcasters to provide more political balance on the nation's airwaves.

"It's absurd," said Mike Shanin, a self-described conservative radio talk show host in Kansas City, Mo.

Shanin said there's no doubt that liberals have been left behind in the world of talk radio and that it makes perfect economic sense: "Look, these are businesses, just like newspapers are businesses. If liberal talk worked, it would be on. It's been tried."

With their industry suddenly on the defensive, talk show hosts are trying to ward off any intervention from Congress.

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[mmonk]

1. Dare to dream.

That would be a step to returning to a useful press.

[Lasher]

2. That's a dream of mine.

I can't wait to get the inevitable right wing email, complaining about this latest liberal plot. I will reply to all to say, "What are you worried about? You've been saying for years that the news media is liberal."

[BOSSHOG]

3. THE FAIRNESS DOCTRINE WILL DESTROY THE FIRST AMENDMENT

so says the poorly educated trash sean hannity who can only make a living by lying and hating.

Why do conservatives fear the FAIRNESS Doctrine and SWEARING TO TELL THE TRUTH?

[Canuckistanian]

4. For people who hate "liberal media", they're sure fighting this tooth and nail

They know they have a good thing going.

[DU9598]

5. BS meme

"If liberal talk worked, it would be on. It's been tried."

Actually, it has nothing to do with making money. Successful liberal talk radio has been taken down in market after market because it was successful and replaced either with conservative talk or religious programming. Have two equal stations and have one liberal and one conservative and give it a year and the liberal programming will be just as successful.

I am not a fan of Ed Schultz, but he beats out Rush in many of the nation's largest markets ... so why isn't he on? And then there is the issue of Armed Forces Radio and TV where (at least in Afghanistan) all non-conservative programming is shown only in the middle of the night while Fox reigns supreme. UGH!