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The Fairness Doctrine

The FCC website states that the organization "was established by the Communications Act of 1934 and is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable" (FCC, 2002). A landmark in the history of the FCC is the institution of a Fairness Doctrine in broadcasting. This paper will analyze the affects the doctrine has had on society from a social, legal, and political standpoint.

The Fairness Doctrine, instituted by the FCC was in operation from approximately 1949 until Ronald ReaganÆs 1987 deregulation-oriented FCC abolished it. The Doctrine required broadcasters in television and radio, as a condition of getting their licenses from the FCC, to cover controversial issues within their community by offering some balancing views. An example of this would be allowing the American Nazi Party to air a program on race in America. The television station that airs the program would then be required to review their programming schedule to insert opposing view programming on the same topic by such groups as the NAACP or the Council of Jewish Americans.

The Fairness Doctrine does not require that each program be internally balanced (such as our previous example), or mandate "equal time": It would not require that balance in the overall program line-up be anything close to 50/50. It merely prohibits a station from blasting away day after day from one perspective (the American Nazi Party), without any opposing views (Such as the examples cited above).

The social impact of the Fairness Doctrine was an exercise in public debate and dialogue. Unfortunately, it has never been a point of actual usage of time for all candidates on issues. For instance, when networks have covered Presidential debates, the only invited candidates have been the Democratic and the Republican. That was only changed in the 1992 election when Ross PerotÆs party candidates were allowed to debate. Th...

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The Fairness Doctrine. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 05:57, March 29, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1709829.html