Changes In The White House Could Change How You Get Your News
A democratic president and a democratic congress… it has many people wondering what kind of agenda Barack Obama will pursue when he takes office. The Fairness Doctrine, was once on the back burner, and now it’s an issue that’s being talked about again. WJBF News Channel 6’s Barclay Bishop has more.
Published: November 6, 2008
Updated: November 6, 2008
Augusta -
The Fairness Doctrine basically says that broadcast companies have to give equal air time to both political sides. Sounds fair enough, but some people say not so much.
For 17 years, Austin Rhodes has led the local airwaves in conservative talk radio. So far, he’s had no real liberal competitor.
Austin Rhodes, WGAC Talk Show Host: “When it comes to a radio product, it has to be popular and it has to be entertaining to survive and the left have not been able to figure that out, it’s a very strange thing.”
In the days since Barack Obama’s been elected president, The Fairness Doctrine has been brought up by many democrats. Wanting more liberal radio stations to counteract show’s like Rhodes.
Dr. Lowell Greenbaum, Chairperson, Richmond County Democratic Party: “You’ve got 10 times the amount of conservative talk like Rush Limbaugh and our friend Austin Rhodes.”
Richmond County’s Democratic Chairperson, Dr. Lowell Greenbaum says it’s time to limit the number of stations owned by one particular group.”
Rhodes: “Ironic that they claim that right wing radio is this big horrible thing, because Barack Obama just won and the democrats are in solid control of the house and the senate so what harm has talk radio done to any of them?”
Dr. Greenbaum: “For 8 years it did and those are very destructive years in this country. And the bush doctrine, and the war in Iraq, all supported by conservative talk radio.”
Whether you’re for or against the Fairness Doctrine, radio hosts like Rhodes, say either way they’ll continue doing what they believe is fair.
Rhodes: “To me, the fairness doctrine is these phone lines that I go to. It’s having guests in the studio. Anything I say on this radio station, the listeners can debate, my guests can debate it, and I’ll have any political leader on my talk show to debate it, that’s as fair as it gets.”
Obama says his top priorities in January will be the economy and healthcare. The topic of the fairness doctrine is hardly on his radar. However, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator John Kerry have both publicly stated that they would support The Fairness Doctrine.
The majority of local radio talk shows are conservative. But there are a few on the other side, such as The Allen Colmes show.
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