To: Mr. Thomas Wheeler, FCC Chairperson
Re-institute the Fairness Doctrine and Require Strict Adherence to Fairness and Accuracy in Broad...
We request the FCC re-institute the Fairness Doctrine and institute rules that require reporting and commentary be held to the highest journalistic standard of fairness and accuracy in broadcast media. We also request strict adherence to the 'equal time rule' devoid of a requirement for financial remuneration to the broadcasting networks.
Why is this important?
The 'Fairness Doctrine' is necessary to encourage unbiased information and diversity of editorial comment and to identify editorial comment as such as opposed to news. Recent studies have shown an unacceptably large percentage of inaccurate and misleading content in news/editorial broadcasting. Though there are alternative means of getting the news and commentary, none are as powerful as television and radio which are, for all intents and purposes, the sole domain of corporate owned entities. Corporate consolidation of media is having a chilling effect on diversity of opinions represented and the selection of news stories covered. Last but not least, these airwaves belong to the people of the United States and should be the most inclusive in diversity of viewpoints and free of bias in any news coverage.
The Fairness Doctrine was a policy of the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC), introduced in 1949, that required the holders of broadcast licenses to both present controversial issues of public importance and to do so in a manner that was, in the Commission's view, honest, equitable and balanced. It was ruled on and upheld as constitutional by the Supreme Court in 1969. It was deregulated in 1987.