Censorship: The Threat to Silence Talk Radio
Renewing the Fairness Doctrine by Any Other Name
Oct 6, 2009
Censorship: The Threat to Silence Talk Radio uses the Fairness Doctrine to describe the efforts by Democratic politicians to revive it. The author, Brian Jennings, discusses what can happen to free speech on radio if the public is not diligent about preserving it.
Battle for the Airwaves Overview
Censorship: The Threat to Silence Talk Radio maintains that under the Obama administration, a battle is on the horizon-a battle for the airwaves that could sharply curtail or silence altogether the freedom of expression that distinguishes America from the average dictatorship. According to Jennings, the target of the battle is talk radio.
It is Jenning's contention that if key Democrats have their way, the principals of the Federal Communication Commission's Fairness Doctrine will be enforced once again to provide what it calls more balanced voices. However, the author writes that regular media, including NPR, and the Internet already offer multiple channels for liberal views. The author believes that the Fairness Doctrine or something similar would allow the government to control the content heard on free radio and that would eventually provide a mandate that will have far-reaching implications for all media.
Fairness Doctrine History
Censorship: The Threat to Silence Talk Radio traces the history of the Fairness Doctrine which had required all licensed broadcasters to present a "balanced" viewpoint on controversial issues. During the Reagan administration, the FCC voted to stop enforcing it. As a result, conservative talk radio grew rapidly with a plethora of hosts including Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, Michael Medved, Neal Boortz and others. Conservative radio gained listeners from coast to coast and provided a powerful voice to the conservative movement.
While liberal radio was failing, conservative radio attracted an estimated 50 million listeners every week. It appeared to be what the American people wanted-conservative voices that were outspoken, powerful and influential.
Conservative Talk Radio Perspective
Censorship: The Threat to Silence Talk Radio offers a historical perspective on the growth of conservative talk shows based on Jennings 40 years in radio. He maintains that it grew out of the pent-up frustration of conservative listeners. Over the years, it has remained popular because the shows developed talent and listener loyalty.
Jennings talked to conservative talk show hosts including Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Michael Savage, Laura Ingraham as well as liberals like Alan Colmes and Ed Schultz about the Fairness Doctrine. Rush Limbaugh maintained that "Talk radio is the American voter."
About the author:
Brian Jennings is one of America's top talk radio programmers who served as National Vice President of Talk Radio for Citadel Broadcasting. He was programming head for over 40 stations nationwide. Jennings is considered one of the founding fathers of the conservative talk radio format. As a national award-winning journalist, he has received Columbia University's Dupont Award, the National Sigma Delta Chi Award, the Ohio State Award, the National Headliners Award and the National Abe Lincoln Award among others. He has also worked as a consultant to national personalities among them Oliver North, Michael Reagan, Alan Colmes, and Dick Cavett. Jenny lives in the Pacific Northwest.
Jennings,Brian. Censorship: The Threat to Silence Talk Radio. New York, NY: Threshold Editions, 2009.
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