The Rush Limbaugh controversy has stoked the debate about talk radio. Some argue that it is too conservative and that government must enforce balance on the airwaves. Others say the market should set programming. Is a new fairness doctrine needed?
Edited by Robert Schlesinger
Yes
With a Democrat in the White House, radio station owners around the country are rushing to
By Bill Press
Emmy Award-winning host of the Bill Press Show, syndicated columnist, and former cohost of CNN’S Crossfire
reflect the new direction of American politics by adding more liberal talk show hosts to their daily lineup. Right?
Wrong. On March 16, Cumulus Broadcasting flipped WLBY AM 1290 in Ann Arbor, Mich., from progressive talk to canned financial advice. Next month, Clear Channel is expected to drop progressive talk on giant 940 WINZ-AM in Miami...
No
The history of the fairness doctrine—and of the industry it once regulated—is all the evidence
By Jim DeMint
U.S. senator from South Carolina and chairman of the Republican Senate Steering Committee
needed to discard it and similar federal policies forever.
When it was imposed in 1949, there were 51 television stations and about 1,500 radio stations in the United States. Because relatively few broadcast hours were devoted to public affairs, the doctrine aimed to ensure that “equal time” was devoted to both sides of controversial...
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Pat Lowe of WA 7:32PM April 22, 2009
GUILLERMO GONZALEZ of FL 5:33AM April 18, 2009
RK of MN 3:36PM April 15, 2009