Smyth: Promote Radio 'Fairness' ... Without A Doctrine

Peter Smyth

GREATER MEDIA COO PETER SMYTH takes the stage in his "The Corner Office" blog to discount any thoughts on a return of The Fairness Doctrine. In a column entitled "The Fairness Doctrine Lives -- Without Government Intervention," he asserts that the plethora of media options renders such a move unnecessary and even inhibiting.

"For the same reason that the indecency regime no longer makes sense, the Fairness Doctrine is similarly obsolete," he wrote. "Today, our listeners have countless options for obtaining information and opinion -- not just broadcast radio and television, newspapers, and large-circulation magazines, but also an ever-expanding array of cable television stations, an endless variety of niche and alternative periodicals, satellite radio, Internet radio, and an Internet marketplace that offers streaming audio and video, blogs, and online newspapers and is growing exponentially each day. If someone questions what is coming out of their radio receiver, they turn it off and seek answers from GOOGLE, WIKIPEDIA or FACTCHECK.ORG.

"If CONGRESS is truly concerned about viewpoint variety and balance, it should focus more on supporting emerging technologies such as HD Radio, mobile and Wi-Fi technologies, and whatever the next generation of telecommunications might be," SMYTH concluded. "A robust and competitive communications marketplace is a far superior tool for promoting balance and diversity of viewpoints than a vague and arbitrary governmental regulation that is constitutionally suspect out of the gate."

Read his entire perspective here.

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