Message:
There is quite a significant difference when it comes to comparing
broadcast and newspaper media outlets in regards to the Fairness
Doctrine. In print journalism, newspapers get their stories from
their staff reporters...unless it's an editorial. In that case,
anyone can submit an editorial and it's up to the editorial staff to
decide whether or not it makes it onto the final printed page. No
such thing exists in broadcast media. Sure, we've got opinions being
shouted from one end of the dial to the other these days, but not just
anybody can walk up to the CNN studios and tell them, "I've got
something to say. Put me on the air." I don't thin the government
should ever force broadcast outlets to put just anyone on the air,
either. If Fox News wants to lean right with their programming, they
should be allowed to lean right. If WSB wants to air Rush Limbaugh's
show followed by Sean Hannity's show, they should be allowed to do
that without having to also make time for whatever liberal radio
personality that may have their own talk show.
With newspapers and print media, however, they accept just any random
editorial entry. No, they shouldn't be forced to find an opposing
viewpoint to every editorial they print, but what they should do is
allow rebuttals if said rebuttal meets common journalistic and
editorial standards. As mentioned above, this isn't a regular
editorial submission nor is it some off-the-wall rant from a
conspiracy theorist that wants his or her 15 minutes of fame...it's a
rebuttal to a previous editorial published by the newspaper by a major
party candidate for the office of the president of the United States.
Common sense dictates that a rebuttal from someone like that usually
shouldn't be rejected.
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