==Opposition to mandated fairness==
One recurring criticism of this requirement was that it had the ''[[de facto]]'' effect of limiting broadcast-media treatment of certain controversial subjects. <ref>Doris A. Garber, "Mass Media and American Politics" (Washington: Congressional Quarterly Press, 1980), p. 93. Doris Garber argues found that "the media frequently shy away from programs dealing with controversial public issues to avoid demands to air opposing views in place of revenue-producing programs.'' </ref>
Under [[FCC]] regulations, however, the media could avoid the problem of furnishing additional air-time for opposing views if they included opposing views on the issues in their regular news programming. The courts tended to side with radio and television media if they can bring forth reasonably good evidence of "fairness" in the coverage.
One effect of its demise was to open the doors to today's political "talk radio," previously inhibited by stations' concerns that they would be required to give time to opposing views. [[Michelle Malkin]] notes several instances where [[liberal]]s are trying Liberals such as Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) have tried to resurrect the [[Fairness Doctrine]] and use . Conservatives fear it to censor [[conservative]] [[free speech]]will cost them their dominance of talk radio. <ref>[http://michellemalkin.com/2007/06/20/fairness-doctrine-watch-a-progressive-attack-on-talk-radio/ Fairness Doctrine Watch: A “progressive” attack on talk radio].</ref> [[Image:Fairness-doc.jpg|thumb|350px|Paul Nowak has a great cartoon that satirizes Liberal in 2007 satirized liberal paranoia of talk radio. <ref> [http://newsbusters.org/node/13855 Paul Nowak Satirizes Liberal Paranoia of Talk Radio] </ref>]]
With the rise of alternatives like cable TV, the networks lost their monopoly on news and public affairs programming. President Ronald Reagan helped introduce competition into the marketplace of ideas by deregulating the broadcast industry and had the FCC drop the "fairness doctrine". Reagan's idea was that broadcasters could endorse whatever views it chose (see [[free speech]] and [[freedom of the press]]).
<ref>[http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/F/htmlF/fairnessdoct/fairnessdoct.htm The Fairness Doctrine], Museum of Broadcast Communication</ref>
Representative [[Mike Pence]], a [[Republican]] from [[R-Indiana]] ) says “There’s nothing fair about the Fairness Doctrine” <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,286972,00.html Lawmaker Aims to Block Any Change to Talk Radio Rules]</ref>
[[Philip Terzian]] at the [[Weekly Standard]] says "Revival of the Fairness Doctrine is not intended to facilitate "both sides of the story" but to shut down conservative talk radio." <ref>http://weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/013/926hhctd.asp Radio Free America</ref>
==See also==
*[[Censorship]]
*[[Conservative talk radio]]
*[[Previous Breaking News/Fairness Doctrine|Articles about the '''Fairness Doctrine''' from previous "Breaking News"]]
<references/>
== Links==*[[categoryhttp:law]//www.claremont.org/publications/pubid.323/pub_detail.asp The Claremont Institute - The Liberal Assault on Freedom of Speech] [[category:politicsUnited States Political Doctrines]]
[[category:broadcasting]]
[[category:human rights]]