Fox News: 'Fairness Doctrine' no match for ratings and money
"This next one may make you think twice about freedom of speech," announced Fox News on Wednesday, stating that the federal government wants to "resurrect" the Fairness Doctrine from "back in the 40's." The Fairness Doctrine, which required broadcasters to present both sides of controversial issues, was federal policy from 1949 until 1987.
Fox then turned to two regular guests, editor of the conservative National Review Rich Lowry and assistant professor of urban studies Marc Lamont Hill, to debate the issue.
Lowry, who dominated the discussion, began by saying, "The market is working here. You have extremely talented conservative talk radio show hosts like Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. And they're on the air because they get ratings. And broadcasters, guess what, they care about ratings because they want money."
"Radio outlets are supposed to operate in the public interest," objected Hill, citing the need for diversity of opinion.
"There is a diversity of opinion out there," insisted Lowry, pointing to PBS and shock jocks as counterbalances to conservatives like Limbaugh. "If you want liberal opinion in the media, you can get it in the newspapers."
Hill cited a study showing that more than half the people are either liberal or moderate and that outlets owned by large conglomerates are more likely to be conservative than those with local control
"Ratings," was Lowry's immediate rejoinder. "If there were a liberal who could get the kind of ratings, they would be on 600 stations just like Rush Limbaugh."
"It's not that simple," Hill attempted to interject, but Lowry continued with his argument as Fox ended the segment
The following video is from Fox's Fox & Friends, broadcast on June 27.
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