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Walter Cronkite used to be the most trusted man in America.
With the exception of a few news icons, Americans can no longer rely on that dependable and highly credible voice. This is due to many factors such as 24 – hour cable news channels and social media.
Perhaps even more important, we also used to have a policy titled the Fairness Doctrine. It’s simple enough, it’s merely a rule that believes in free and fair competition of opposing views. It requires television and radio broadcasters to present different thoughts to ensure Americans understand the facts surrounding public or political issues. (link)
The doctrine was put to an end with a court ruling in 1987 under the Reagan administration.
As a result, irreparable damage was done not only to journalism but to what truth means in America.
It opened the door to inaccurate reporting masquerading as news. There is no such thing as “alternative facts” and the right wing media is in a race to the bottom bringing American democracy down with them.
With looser restrictions companies like the conservative leaning Sinclair Broadcast Group were welcomed into the world of media.* Now they are the owner of nearly 300 television stations across the U.S. It’s clearly a monopoly in charge of its own “facts” parading under the guise of “local” news and public interest stories. (See Clip) **
To add to its long list of priorities, the Biden administration must address this with haste. It’s crucial his presidency is accurately covered without bias. The Doctrine needs to be revised and strongly enforced to include cable news, social media and to some extent talk radio.
The American public has been led down a path where nothing in the news appears balanced. There used to be independent source verifications, which newsrooms across America still do, the difference is it’s no longer encouraged by some producers. In most instances sorting facts from fiction are in the hands solely of the consumers of information.
The right wing often reiterates the same “facts” parading as news every night across all of their conservative platforms. The often don’t cite reliable sources. Fox, for example, bills itself as only an entertainment network.
Think about that, the White House does not include the likes of TMZ to press briefings, why should Fox even be allowed in or have White House credentials?
This had a massive impact during the presidential race and most likely led to the seditionist acts of January 6th.
“During the campaign, Fox wallowed in Trump lies and misinformation about the contest possibly being "rigged," and that "corrupt Democrats" would try to "steal" the contest, says Eric Boehlert of PRESS RUN.
It isn’t a new concept. The media have been fomenting division since Madison’s time, and political scientists have traced a portion of today’s outrage culture to the rise of cable television and talk radio in the 1980s and ’90s. A multiplicity of forces are pushing America toward greater polarization. But social media in the years since 2013 has become a powerful accelerant for anyone who wants to start a fire. ***
Social media must be integrated in the revised version of the rule. Kara Swisher of the Pivot podcast has railed against disinformation on social media and has actively promoted the need to regulate the content. She argues social media are responsible for what is reported on their platforms and should be forced to confirm reliable information. (See Clip)****
In Finland there is an entire initiative launched to educate the public about media literacy. In particular social media, “Facebook, Twitter, Google/YouTube who are enablers of Russian trolls should be regulated,” said Jessikka Aro, a journalist there who has been investigating Russian media manipulation long before it was linked to the 2016 US elections. *****
An of course no one can deny the negative effect of talk radio on society.
Free, honest and fair journalism are the essence of a functioning democracy, it’s what is needed to make it work. There are many hard working honest journalists who aren’t on TV every night trying to make themselves the story and delude viewers further into the dark corners of harmful untruths.
Print media has taken a hit in circulation. These journalists both locally and nationally report on stories of value. Even when they aren’t sensational, they are vital. Especially local newspapers that foster a sense of community.
This is of course an uphill battle given the conservative nature of the Supreme Court, but one worth fighting for.
The death of true independent news stories and verified facts should not be a thing of the past.
It should be our future.
Opinion: It’s time to revisit the Fairness Doctrine | Juneau Empire *
Bring Back the Fairness Doctrine - The Donella Meadows Project **
John Oliver ***
The Fairness Doctrine — FAIR (Sinclair) ****
Fox News "purge" confirms network shouldn’t have White House credentials - PRESS RUN
Kara Swisher *****
Finland is winning the war on fake news. Other nations want the blueprint (cnn.com)*****