The Fairness Doctrine and the Media

By Steven J. Simmons and Steven J. Simmons

Book Overview

The Fairness Doctrine and the Media examines the complex history and ongoing debates surrounding the Federal Communications Commission's fairness doctrine, a regulation designed to ensure that broadcast media provide balanced and diverse viewpoints on controversial issues of public importance. The doctrine, which arose in the context of the rise of radio and television, was grounded in the belief that media outlets, with their amplified voices, held a responsibility to ensure that the public could hear all sides of important issues. This book delves into the legal and practical implications of the fairness doctrine, offering a historical narrative of its development, its challenges, and its eventual decline. The author critically explores the doctrine's evolution, including its inconsistencies, potential for misuse, and the dangers of government overreach, while also offering thoughtful proposals for reform.

Through a detailed analysis, the book provides an insightful examination for a wide range of audiences, including students, legal professionals, broadcasters, and members of the general public interested in media regulation and freedom of speech. The work is an invaluable resource for those seeking a nuanced understanding of how government regulation intersects with media practices, and it critically assesses the role of the fairness doctrine in shaping media content. By exposing both the strengths and shortcomings of this regulatory effort, the book encourages readers to reexamine long-held assumptions about the balance between government intervention and press freedom, making it a vital text for those engaged in the ongoing debate about the future of media regulation in the United States.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press's mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1978.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0520370996
• ISBN13: 9780520370999
• Release Date: August 2022
• Publisher: University of California Press
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Depth the to oppostion of the Fairness Doctrine

The first thing that one should know about this book before purchasing is this - the book was written in 1978, which is almost a decade before the Fairness Doctrine was abolished from the FCC's policies. Simmons' book gives an in-depth look to the rising opposition to the Fairness Doctrine. The information in this book is easily accessible through different outlets (whether it be a wikipedia search or a media law textbook). However, what this book offers that those don't is bias. Simmons is a strong advocate for FCC and also for broadcasters 1st amendment rights. He's clearly done his research and knows this field very well. I feel that his bias makes this a very interesting read for someone who's interesting in the broadcasting media. Otherwise, this book would be just facts, but instead the reader gets to travel back in time to before the Doctrine's demise and feel the growing resentment that it's causing. As mentioned before, Simmons knows his stuff. This is a long book, and his source notes and bibliographies take up a good portion of the book and they are a fantastic supplement to the information. He blends the info with his thoughts trying to persuade you to agree that something is wrong and that it most be fixed. Simmons even presents a solution. If you're doing research on the Fairness Doctrine, this is a great book to read. If you're just curious what the Fairness Doctrine is, I suggest a simple google search.