Monday, February 16, 2009

Fairness Doctrin and Equal Time

This is an issue that has flaired up in the news again.

I understand from reading about it at Wiki that the Fairness Doctrin and Equal Time are two different things.

The problem with either system is that it has been one deminsional, being left or right, while the real world is three deminsional.

Fairness and equal time is easier today than any previous time in history because of the Internet. TV and radio stations, print newspapers and magazines, all have their own websites. At those websites it isn't even necessary to provide text space for all points of view for the Fairness Doctrin or even for all candidates for Equal Time. It is only necessary to provide links to their own websites where they are free to present whatever they want, to whatever extent they want, and at their own cost. They should be responsible for submitting their links to the websites of TV and radio stations, newspapers and magazines, rather than the news media being responsible for seeking out and listing all links to all points of view and all candidates although they should be open to all submissions. That is my opinion.

James C. Harwood
Norman, Oklahoma