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The Fairness Doctrine was a policy that held that broadcast media such as news had an obligation to offer equal airtime for all sides of a particular issue

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The Fairness Doctrine was a policy that held that broadcast media such as news had an obligation to offer equal airtime for all sides of a particular issue. It was determined in 1987 that the Fairness Doctrine did not have to be enforced by the FCC since it was not specifically mandated by Congress. Since that time, a great deal of news coverage has become much more partisan, even with the pretense of offering opinions on multiple sides.

Initial Post:

1. Do you think the Fairness Doctrine should be re-established? Why or why not?
2. The Fairness Doctrine has never applied to print media like newspapers. Should it be applied to media other than broadcasting?
3. Are there limits to the Fairness Doctrine? (For example, does a show about outer space need to provide equal time for flat Earth information?)

Reply Posts:

Select two of your peers’ posts and address the following:

• Do you agree with the posters’ main points? Why or why not? Have they overlooked some important aspects of how the Fairness Doctrine could be used?
• Apply the posters’ response to the original discussion questions to a hypothetical situation of providing equal time for opposing viewpoints. Are there potential problems that have not been addressed? Would their suggestions create more potential for misinformation to be spread? Why or why not?