In light of the last few years, culminating in the insurrection that attempted to overturn the general election results, many people wonder what can be done to curb misinformation that explodes like a geyser and infects the masses.
Some people point to the Reagan administration’s elimination of the fairness doctrine which required broadcast companies using the public airways, i.e. television and radio, to present controversial issues of public interest and in an honest, equitable and balanced manner. The doctrine was instituted in the early days of television in 1949 and was in place for about 40 years.
kAm~?46 E96 492:?D H6C6 @77[ u~) }6HD 2?5 #FD9 {:>32F89’D C25:@ D9@H 7=@FC:D965] xE E@@< E96 =67E H:?8 2 =:EE=6 H9:=6 E@ 42E49 FA[ 3FE D@@? E96C6 H2D |$}qr 2?5 #2496= |255@H[ 6E4] }@?6 @7 E96 D9@HD H:E9 2 DA64:7:4 A@=:E:42= A@:?E\@7\G:6H 5@ 2?JE9:?8 E92E C6D6>3=6 32=2?465 C6A@CE:?8 2?5 E96 >@C6 :?7=2>>2E@CJ E96 36EE6C]k^Am
kAmx? E@52J’D 9:89=J 492C865 A@=:E:42= 6?G:C@?>6?E[ u~) }6HD :D ?@E C25:42= 6?@F89 2?5 92D 366? DFAA=2?E65 3J }6HD>2I 2?5 ~p}} 2D 72G@C65 G:6H:?8]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 D@>6 92G6 42==65 7@C C6:?DE2E:?8 E96 72:C?6DD 5@4EC:?6[ H:E9 2== @7 E96 @FE=6ED 2?5 A=2E7@C>D E@ 4:C4F=2E6 :?7@C>2E:@? @C >:D:?7@C>2E:@?[ E96 5@4EC:?6 H@F=5 5@ =:EE=6 E@ 492?86 E96 D:EF2E:@?]k^Am
kAm%@52J E96 D@4:2= >65:2 D:E6D 2>A=:7J H92E6G6C :D 5:DEC:3FE65 7@C AF3=:4 4@?DF>AE:@? 3@E9 8@@5 2?5 325 2?5 92D 366? >2?:AF=2E65 3J 7@C6:8? 4@F?EC:6D =:<6 #FDD:2 2?5 xC2?[ 2D H6== 2D A@=:E:42= @C82?:K2E:@?D @7 2== DEC:A6D]k^Am
kAm$66:?8 2 G:56@ E@52J :D ?@E E96 D2>6 2D 6G6? 7:G6 J62CD 28@] %@52J’D E649?@=@8J 2==@HD :E E@ 36 2=E6C65 :? >2?J H2JD >2<:?8 :E :>A@DD:3=6 7@C E96 F?EC2:?65 6J6 E@ E6== H92E :D C62= 2?5 H92E :D ?@E]k^Am
kAm%96 72:C?6DD 5@4EC:?6 @?=J 2AA=:65 E@ E9@D6 FD:?8 E96 AF3=:4 2:CH2G6D E@ 3C@2542DE[ ?@E ?6HDA2A6CD @C >282K:?6D @C @E96C >65:2 5FC:?8 E92E E:>6]k^Am
kAm%9@D6 H6C6 5:776C6?E 52JD :? ;@FC?2=:D> H96? E96C6 H2D C62= 4@>A6E:E:@? 36EH66? ?6HDA2A6CD 2?5 E6=6G:D:@? DE2E:@?D 6E4] %96 4@>A6E:E:@? 7@C465 “E96 >65:2” E@ 36 2E :ED 36DE @C D@>6@?6 H2D C:89E 369:?5 C625J E@ E2<6 J@FC A=246] %96C6 H2D 2 4@56 @7 6E9:4D 2?5 2 3C:89E C65 =:?6 36EH66? ?6HD 2?5 @A:?:@?] %@52J >2?J A6@A=6 H2E49:?8 @?=J E96:C 72G@C:E6 ?6HD @C82?:K2E:@? 2C6 ?@E 23=6 E@ 5:DE:?8F:D9 H92E :D @A:?:@? 2?5 H92E :D DEC2:89E ?6HD]k^Am
kAmqFE E92E 368D E96 BF6DE:@? @7 H92E 42? 36 5@?6 E@ 255C6DD E96 >2DD:G6 2>@F?E @7 >:D:?7@C>2E:@? E92E 7=@@5D E96 >65:2 @? 2== A=2E7@C>D E@52J] xE :D 5:77:4F=E E@ 6?G:D:@? 2 D@=FE:@?[ 3FE :E 92D E@ DE2CE H:E9 2 D92C65 ECFE9] (96? E92E 5@6D?’E 92AA6?[ H6 92G6 H92E :D E@52J’D >65:2 =2?5D42A6]k^Am
kAm(96? x C6E:C65 E96 7:CDE E:>6[ 2?@E96C[ >F49 J@F?86C C6A@CE6C 2D<65 >6 H92E 925 492?865 :? E96 b_ J62CD x 925 4@G6C65 E96 $E2E6 w@FD6]k^Am
kAmx D2:5 H96? x 7:CDE H@C<65 :? r@?4@C5 A6@A=6 5:5 ?@E =:6 E@ J@F[ E96J >2J ?@E 92G6 E@=5 J@F E96 H9@=6 ECFE9[ 3FE E96J 5:5 ?@E =:6 E@ J@F] }@H =J:?8 :D DE2?52C5 AC@465FC6 :? E96 A@=:E:42= H@C=5] %96 6?5D ;FDE:7J E96 >62?D]k^Am
kAmp?5 E96 =:6D 92G6 A6C>62E65 @FC 4@F?ECJ E@ E96 A@:?E A6@A=6 E@52J 2C6 23D@=FE6=J 4@?G:?465 @7 E9:?8D E92E 2C6 ;FDE A=2:? 72=D6]k^Am
kAm(96? E96 AC6D:56?E @7 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 42? 4@?G:?46 h_ A6C46?E @7 9:D A2CEJ E92E 96 H@? E96 6=64E:@? H96? 96 =@DE 3J g >:==:@? G@E6D[ “H6 92G6 2 AC@3=6> w@FDE@?]”k^Am
kAmp?5 E92E >:D:?7@C>2E:@? H2D C6A62E65 2?5 C6A62E65 3J >6>36CD @7 9:D A2CEJ 2?5 :ED A@=:E:4:2?D 6?5=6DD=J F?E:= 2 D:K23=6 ?F>36C @7 A6@A=6 36=:6G65 D@ DEC@?8=J E96 6=64E:@? H2D DE@=6? E96J C:@E65 :? E96 &]$] r2A:E@= 2?5 9F?E65 7@C A@=:E:4:2?D E@ 92?8 @C D9@@E]k^Am
kAm%@@ >2?J A6@A=6 E@52J 5@ ?@E H2?E E96 ECFE9[ E96J H2?E E@ <?@H H92E E96J 2=C625J 36=:6G6 @C H92E 7:ED E96:C G:D:@? @7 E96 H@C=5]k^Am
kAm%96 A@:?E :D ?@ =@?86C 6?828:?8 :? 5:D4@FCD6 E@ 2CC:G6 2E 2 4@>AC@>:D6 E92E 5@6D ?@E D2E:D7J 2?J@?6 3FE 6G6CJ@?6 C646:G6D 2 =:EE=6 @7 H92E E96J ?665] }@H :E :D E2<6\:E @C =62G6\:E 2?5 H96? E96 @E96C D:56 564:56D E@ =62G6 :E[ E96J 2C6 42==65 A@@C =@D6CD @C E@@ A2CE:D2? E@ H@C< H:E9 J@F]k^Am
kAm%96 }6H w2>AD9:C6 {68:D=2EFC6 92D 492?865 DF3DE2?E:2==J :? >J E9C66 564256D H2E49:?8 :ED H@C<:?8D]k^Am
kAm%96 $E2E6 w@FD6 H2D 2 >F49 >@C6 4@?86?:2= A=246 :? E96 =2E6 `hg_D 2?5 62C=J `hh_D 2D =2H>2<6CD 8C2AA=65 H:E9 2 ?62C C646DD:@? E92E E@@< 5@H? E96 7:G6 3:886DE 32?<D :? E96 DE2E6 2?5 =67E E96 u656C2= s6A@D:E x?DFC2?46 r@CA@C2E:@? @H?:?8 >@DE @7 E96 t=> $EC66E 3F:=5:?8D :? |2?496DE6C H:E9 @E96C 4:E:6D 2?5 E@H?D 92G:?8 D:>:=2C AC@3=6>D]k^Am
kAm#6AF3=:42?D 2?5 s6>@4C2ED :? E96 w@FD6[ 3FE >@DE=J E96 $6?2E6[ H@C<65 E@86E96C E@ 56G6=@A 2? 64@?@>:4 56G6=@A>6?E A24<286 E@ 96=A E96 DE2E6 C64@G6C[ D@>6 @7 H9:49 C6>2:?D E@52J =:<6 E96 qFD:?6DD u:?2?46 pFE9@C:EJ]k^Am
kAm~? E96 $624@2DE[ !62D6 p:C u@C46 q2D6 4=@D65 >2<:?8 >2EE6CD 6G6? H@CD6 H:E9 E96 DE2E6’D 64@?@>J =@D:?8 9F?5C65D @7 >:==:@?D @7 5@==2CD] p?5 2E E96 D2>6 E:>6[ !F3=:4 $6CG:46 @7 }6H w2>AD9:C6 H6?E 32?<CFAE F?56C :ED $623C@@< ?F4=62C A@H6C A=2?E 563E H9:49 2=D@ D6?E EH@ @E96C 6=64EC:4 FE:=:E:6D :?E@ 32?<CFAE4J]k^Am
kAmxE E@@< #6AF3=:42?D 2?5 s6>@4C2ED E@ H@C< E@86E96C E@ AF== E96 DE2E6 @FE @7 :ED 64@?@>:4 5@=5CF>D 2?5 E@ C63@F?5 H:E9 2 E9C:G:?8 64@?@>J E92E :? E96 =2E6 `hh_D AC@5F465 2 7656C2==J 32=2?465 3F586E H:E9 2 DFCA=FD]k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 E92E A6C:@5 :? E96 =2E6 `hg_D 2?5 62C=J `hh_D[ =2H>2<6CD 28C665 @? H92E E96 ECFE9 H2D[ E96 DE2E6 H2D :? 566A EC@F3=6 3642FD6 E96 32?<D H6C6 8C62E=J @G6C6IE6?565[ =2C86=J :? E96 C62= 6DE2E6 >2C<6E[ 2?5 :? D@>6 42D6D H6C6 2 A2CE?6C :? AC@;64ED E92E 4@==2AD65]k^Am
kAmxE H2D ?@E 2 #6AF3=:42? AC@3=6> — E96J H6C6 :? 4@?EC@= 2?5 :? E96 >:5DE @7 2 =@?8 CF? 9@=5:?8 >2;@C:E:6D :? E96 =68:D=2EFC6[ tI64FE:G6 r@F?4:=[ 2?5 E96 8@G6C?@C’D @77:46 — ?@C 2 s6>@4C2E:4 AC@3=6>[ :E H2D E96 DE2E6’D AC@3=6> 2?5 3@E9 D:56D 28C665 E@ >@G6 7@CH2C5]k^Am
kAm%@52J J@F H@F=5 E9:?< H:E9 E96 56G2DE2E:@? r~'xs\`h 92D C2:?65 @? E9:D 4@F?ECJ 2?5 }6H w2>AD9:C6 E96C6 H@F=5 36 2 D:>:=2C C6DA@?D6]k^Am
kAmpE E96 368:??:?8 E96C6 H2D 2 F?:E65 7C@?E[ 3FE H96? S`]ad 3:==:@? :? rp#t$ p4E >@?6J 2CC:G65[ E92E 6?565 >F49 @7 E96 4@@A6C2E:@? 2D v@G] r9C:D $F?F?F E@@< 4@?EC@=]k^Am
kAm%@52J 6G6? >6>36CD @7 $F?F?F’D @H? A2CEJ 42?’E 28C66 @? H92E ?665D E@ 36 5@?6]k^Am
kAmp =2C86 724E:@? @7 E96 v~! H2?ED E@ 6?5 9:D 6>6C86?4J 564=2C2E:@?D 2?5 6I64FE:G6 @C56CD 2?5 @A6? E96 DE2E6 FA H9:=6 E96 A2?56>:4 DE:== C286D[ ?@E BF:E6 2D 325=J 2D :E 5:5[ 3FE :E DE:== :D ?@E F?56C 4@?EC@=]k^Am
kAm%96J H@F=5 =:<6 $F?F?F E@ 36 =:<6 8@G6C?@CD :? %6I2D 2?5 |:DD:DD:AA:[ 6?5 C6DEC:4E:@?D 2?5 E96 >2D< >2?52E6]k^Am
kAmqFE E96 8@G6C?@C 2?5 2 =2C86 D68>6?E @7 9:D @H? A2CEJ 42??@E 28C66 @? H92E :D E96 ECFE9 H:E9 E96 A2?56>:4[ >F49 =6DD s6>@4C2ED 2?5 #6AF3=:42?D]k^Am
kAm|@C6 A6@A=6 ?665 E@ C62=:K6 E@ ECF=J 6?5 E96 A2?56>:4 2?5 C6EFC? E@ “?@C>2=[” H92E6G6C E92E >2J =@@< =:<6 @? E96 @E96C D:56[ E96C6 ?665D E@ 36 2 D92C65 ECFE9]k^Am
kAm&?E:= E92E :D 7@F?5[ :E H:== 36 EH@ DE6AD 7@CH2C5 2?5 E9C66 DE6AD 324<] %96 A2?56>:4 H:== 4@?E:?F6 E@ DAC625 2?5 DAC625 2?5 >FE2E6 2?5 2?@E96C DFC86 H:== 36 @? E96 9@C:K@?]k^Am
kAmp?5 H6 H:== H@?56C H96? :E H:== 6G6C 6?5]k^Am
kAmk6>mv2CCJ #2J?@ >2J 36 C624965 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i82CCJ]C2J?@oJ29@@]4@>Qm82CCJ]C2J?@oJ29@@]4@>k^2m]k^6>mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.