Issue date: 7/25/07 Section: Editorial

I am writing in response to Maggie Willis' column on the Fairness Doctrine in the July 18 edition of the Alestle.

The U.S. House of Representatives did the wrong thing in voting against the restoration of the Fairness Doctrine, which is constitutional because it protects free speech and free choice, which is guaranteed by the First Amendment. The Fairness Doctrine allowed the people to hear both sides of an issue and make up their minds for themselves. Without it, the broadcasters believe that we cannot make up our minds for ourselves; they believe that our minds have to be made up for us.

Radio is not only a business; it is also a service to the local community. If a station devotes its entire time to conservative talk, and does not allow for those with opposing viewpoints to reply, then it is doing a major disservice to the local community. The Fairness Doctrine guaranteed that both views were heard; the fact is that conservative talk radio won't lose 50 percent of airtime to what she calls "liberal" interests. The average editorial reply usually went no more than two minutes. The lack of fairness in our media shows that America cannot make any kind of progress, whether it be social or economic.

I strongly oppose any further deregulation of our media. In fact, I support re-regulation of the media. Since the Telecommunications Act was passed 11 years ago, some 15,000 radio professionals have needlessly lost their jobs. Limiting how many radio stations a company can own actually encourages diversity of viewpoints and can allow for more people to actually have jobs in the media. Most of our radio stations are not operating in the public interest; they don't care about the local community. There is also a deceptive form of programming in the radio landscape called "voicetracking;" where pre-recorded announcements, most often done hundreds of miles away, replaces the local air talent. There are often no time checks; if there is, the time is usually off by a minute. Often, local street names are mispronounced.

Without the Fairness Doctrine, American society is woefully misinformed. What the U.S. House of Representatives really did was deal a major defeat for free speech and free choice. There is no such thing as a "free market" anymore; the market was truly free when Fairness was in effect. Fairness is not "government interference," as Willis erroneously states. It is a way to keep some sort of balance and discipline in radio broadcasting. Today's radio landscape is totally undisciplined and unfairly balanced in favor of conservatives.

Many of the conservative talk show hosts, for example, have expressed opposition to social justice for the poor and have made anti-Islamic remarks.

The American media has lost respect around the world; as long as the Fairness Doctrine is not in effect, it does not deserve any respect internationally.



E.B. Stevenson

Host, "Rhythm and News"

WSIE 88.7 FM

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