The Fairness Doctrine. Is it Fair?
The point to ponder today is the idea that some in congress; Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry, and Richard Durbin; want to bring back what is known as “The Fairness Doctrine.” Simply put, this doctrine, enforced by the FCC, would limit the speech of those who have a differing view than the regulators. A good example of this is modern talk radio. The success of talk radio in America is related to the topics they discuss or talk about. More to the point, it is not just the topic that drives the talk but the point of view discussed by the host and the public. That point of view is in most cases a conservative point of view. Hence to bring back the “Fairness Doctrine” is to stifle the free exchange of ideas.
Many on the left demonize conservative radio talk show hosts like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Michael Savage, Bill O’Reilly, Glenn Beck, Michael Medved, Dennis Prager, Laura Ingraham, Mark Levin, and Dr. Laura, to name a few. These talk show hosts have legitimate points of view and millions of listeners who share these points of view. They are highly successful in the free market of radio because they make money for their sponsors. The reason they make money is because the listening audience is so large, the advertisers are willing to spend money reaching them for their business. In other words, conservative talk radio is very profitable. The audience drives the business. If the radio program does not interest the listener, the listener will tune out. With no listeners the show dies and there will be no advertising and no profits.
The simple truth is this. When you talk about what people are interested in, and your point of view agrees with theirs, you will have a very successful program. When the interest is not there you will not. There are radio talk shows with a more liberal or left leaning point of view, however, they are not market success stories. National Public Radio (NPR) tends to lean left but has very few listeners. The reason they stay on the air is because our tax dollars pay for it. There are other left leaning shows that do not do very well in a free market because their point of view does not attract many listeners. It is simply supply and demand. There is not much demand for left leaning commentary on radio.
If the “Fairness Doctrine” were to come back, it is only because it was mandated by a left leaning congress and signed into law by a liberal, left leaning president. I say, let the market decide. Do not put any curbs on any speech. Talk radio is the target today; it may very well be the internet and blogs tomorrow.
Many on the left demonize conservative radio talk show hosts like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Michael Savage, Bill O’Reilly, Glenn Beck, Michael Medved, Dennis Prager, Laura Ingraham, Mark Levin, and Dr. Laura, to name a few. These talk show hosts have legitimate points of view and millions of listeners who share these points of view. They are highly successful in the free market of radio because they make money for their sponsors. The reason they make money is because the listening audience is so large, the advertisers are willing to spend money reaching them for their business. In other words, conservative talk radio is very profitable. The audience drives the business. If the radio program does not interest the listener, the listener will tune out. With no listeners the show dies and there will be no advertising and no profits.
The simple truth is this. When you talk about what people are interested in, and your point of view agrees with theirs, you will have a very successful program. When the interest is not there you will not. There are radio talk shows with a more liberal or left leaning point of view, however, they are not market success stories. National Public Radio (NPR) tends to lean left but has very few listeners. The reason they stay on the air is because our tax dollars pay for it. There are other left leaning shows that do not do very well in a free market because their point of view does not attract many listeners. It is simply supply and demand. There is not much demand for left leaning commentary on radio.
If the “Fairness Doctrine” were to come back, it is only because it was mandated by a left leaning congress and signed into law by a liberal, left leaning president. I say, let the market decide. Do not put any curbs on any speech. Talk radio is the target today; it may very well be the internet and blogs tomorrow.
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