The Importance Of The Fairness Doctrine

In 1949, the United States Federal Communications Commission introduced a policy referred to as the Fairness Doctrine in which “broadcast journalist was required to dedicate airtime to controversial issues of the public concern in a balanced manner” (p 19). The rationale for the policy was the belief that the media without the requirement to present information regarding controversial issues in an equitable and balanced manner would possess the power to sway public opinion in a manner that would not serve the public interest. Given that many Americans receive their information through the mainstream media like the major television networks and cable broadcasting entities, as well as newspapers such as the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal,

Many scientists disagreed with the Fairness Doctrine because they did not believe that in a fair debate there should be a balance when addressing these issues in the media. The logic for their disagreement centered upon the issue of fact versus opinion. “Tobacco caused cancer: that was a fact, and the industry knew”; nonetheless, media outlets choose to look past the evidence and continued to support those whose aim was to persuade consumers that smoking was not harmful and thus could not cause cancer (p 14). Oreskes and Conway argue that the Fairness Doctrine is effective only when someone is debating an issue that deserves to have equal time like matters of opinion. Further, the authors contend that many issues that remain controversial today have already been resolved, as facts have been established. When one side argues facts and the other side offers opinions as the counter argument, the public interest is not served. Opinion does not override a fact when it comes down to science and hard

While the Fairness Doctrine might seem like an equitable manner, allowing the Public to become better informed on matters of great controversy, in reality, the doctrine can allow an opinionated group or one with heavily vested interests to spread disinformation thus working against the interest of the Public. While the intent of the policy was to do quite the opposite, the authors did establish that the Fairness Doctrine contributed to the distribution of false advertisements as well as false information on the effects of tobacco smoke. Further, the authors established the Fairness Doctrine allows for unproven theories or opinions to be viewed as scientific facts by a Public that may be easily persuaded. In 1987, the Federal Communication Commission eliminated the Fairness Doctrine. The Commission’s rationale for the change in policy was the proliferation of media outlets as well as Internet access to which the Public can go for information regarding controversial issues. The public is no longer limited in terms of sources as in