Minister Al-X

No room for progressives on cable news inauguration coverage

Media Matters for America inventoried guests on the cable news networks during the inaugaration and found, surpirse-surprise, that there was "No room for progressives."

Media Matters for America inventoried all guests who appeared on FOX News, CNN, and MSNBC during the channels' January 20 inauguration coverage. Between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Republican and conservative guests and commentators outnumbered Democrats and progressives 19 to 7 on FOX, 10 to 1 on CNN (not including a Republican-skewed panel featuring Ohio voters), and 13 to 2 on MSNBC. Moreover, the rare Democrat or progressive guest usually appeared opposite conservatives, whereas most Republican and conservative guests and commentators appeared solo or alongside fellow conservatives.

This type of conservative slant is precisely why we need to renew the "Fairness Doctrine" (thanks to Chris Bowers at MyDD for hyping this), which basically calls for equal air time on the news for candidates during an election.

As Chris notes:

Next week, as I wrote about last Friday, Representative Louise Slaughter will introduce a bill to Congress to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine. The Fairness Doctrine is an extremely popular idea, but when Democrats tried to pass the legislation in 1993, conservatives were able to defeat it. They did so through the traditional conservative means: they lied.

This is extremely important. The right has a virtual monopoly over cable news and it is absolutely vital that our candidates be given the oppurtunity to present the progressive side and framing of issues.

You can help support Rep. Slaughter's efforts by signing this petition to RENEW THE FAIRNESS DOCTRINE.

Here's what the petition says:

For many years, television and radio stations were required to give equal time to opposing sides of public or political issues to ensure the American public heard all sides of a debate. It was a requirement made by the Federal Communications Commission that came to be known as The Fairness Doctrine.

In 1986, a federal court ruled that the Fairness Doctrine did not have the force of law and could be overturned without congressional approval. Congress passed a bill to make the doctrine law but the bill was vetoed by President Reagan in 1987 and the Fairness Doctrine was abolished.

Since then, the country has experienced a proliferation of highly partisan news outlets that disseminate unbalanced news coverage. Democracy is built on the idea that the views, beliefs, and values of an informed citizenry provide the best basis for political decision-making.

And American listeners and viewers agree. A recent poll of likely voters shows overwhelming support across the political and demographic spectrum for restoring rules requiring fairness and balance on the public airwaves.

Please join us in signing the following petition calling for the reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine.

posted by Anonymous @ 1:38 PM