Liberal columnist and former liberal talk show host (KTLK - L.A) here, so you can assume I am...a liberal. More than once I've written about the need for the Fairness Doctrine - a policy that would require the holders of broadcast licenses both to present controversial issues of public importance and to do so in a manner that was honest, equitable and balanced - but yesterday I had a change of heart.
While listening to talk radio in my non-satellite radio car yesterday (I live in the Philadelphia area so if you want to listen to political talk it has to be conservative), I heard Sean Hannity speak of how unfair a re-institution the Fairness Doctrine would be. The light and lilting tones of the powerhouse hunk of conservative talk must have Hannitized me for it finally hit me that there was no reason for the FD, especially on talk radio.
I'd love to be able to tune in the likes of liberal hosts like Stephanie Miller, Ed Schultz and Thom Hartmann while on the neighborhood streets of South Philly or the beautiful countryside of Bucks County, PA without having to READ THE REST OF THE SAY NO TO THE FAIRNESS DOCTRINE TOME HERE
Award-winning TV writer Steve Young is author of "Great Failures of the Extremely Successful" www.greatfailure.com and blogs at the appropriately-named steveyoungonpolitics.com