I googled the Fairness Doctrine and found numerous recent listings. Louise Slaughter (D-NY), and many others, are actively working to bring it back. From what I have been reading, the FD was far from perfect, but I believe reinstating it would go a long way to causing corporate owners to balance their product for the public good.
Here are some interesting links that I found:
Wikipedia
A snippet from this link:
Quote:
The two corollary rules, the personal attack rule and the political editorial rule, remained in practice even after the repeal of the fairness doctrine. The personal attack rule is pertinent whenever a person or small group is subject to a character attack during a broadcast. Stations must notify such persons or groups within a week of the attack, send them transcripts of what was said, and offer the opportunity to respond on the air. The political editorial rule applies when a station broadcasts editorials endorsing or opposing candidates for public office, and stipulates that the candidates not endorsed be notified and allowed a reasonable opportunity to respond.
The Court of Appeals for Washington D.C. ordered the FCC to justify these corollary rules in light of the decision to axe the fairness doctrine. The commission did not do so promptly, and in 2000 it ordered their repeal. The collapse of the fairness doctrine and its corollary rules had significant political effects. One longtime Pennsylvania political leader, State Rep. Mark B. Cohen of Philadelphia, said "The fairness doctrine helped reinforce a politics of moderation and inclusiveness. The collapse of the fairness doctrine and its corollary rules blurred the distinctions between news, political advocacy, and political advertising, and helped lead to the polarizing cacophony of strident talking heads that we have today."
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Slaughter's Bill
Snippet:
Quote:
MEDIA GROUPS UNVEIL WEB SITE TO SUPPORT SLAUGHTER'S FAIRNESS DOCTRINE BILL
Sinclair Broadcasting Incident Underscores Need to Restore Fairness to America's Airwaves
Washington, DC - Leading media experts Tom Athans of Democracy Radio, David Brock of Media Matters for America and Andrew Jay Schwartzman of the Democracy Access Project have unveiled www.fairnessdoctrine.com to promote U.S. Rep. Louise M. Slaughter's (D-NY28) legislation to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine. Abolished during the Reagan Administration, the Federal Communications Commission's Fairness Doctrine required broadcasters to equally cover all sides of important issues. The new web site offers comprehensive information on why the nation needs the Fairness Doctrine reinstated and a petition for supporters to demand that Congress restore balance to the airwaves.
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I can't tell you how enthused I am that a movement to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine is further along than I knew. Thanks, Shakran!
Edit: The FD.com link is a popup nightmare. I will look for a direct link.
