RIP Walter Cronkite

[Hooahguy]

From what research I have done, modern news began to turn into what it is now after the removal of the Fairness Doctrine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairness_doctrine) in 1987:

The Fairness Doctrine was a policy of the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC), introduced in 1949, that required the holders of broadcast licenses both to present controversial issues of public importance and to do so in a manner that was (in the Commission's view) honest, equitable and balanced.

I really don't know what to think of it, on one hand I think it is pretty sad when people listen to pundits instead of hearing the raw facts from journalists and making their own decisions, on the other hand I wouldn't care for government saying what the public can and cannot watch.

Hey, maybe I could make a thread about this doctrine and get a better view of both sides.

AFAIK, the fairness doctrine was aimed at talk show hosts, mostly conservative. ever since the 90's conservative talk radio has shot up, while the tv and newspapers have gone down in popularity.
the whole point of a talk show is for some guy or gal to run his/her mouth off about some topic and his/her opinion about it. making the talk show host present the other side undermines what free speech is all about. the host should be allowed to say whatever he wants as long as he is not hate-mongering.
if people want the one sided view, ok, go and listen to that show. but dont make them hear the other side if they dont want to hear it.

in short: the news is meant to be fair and seeing both sides. talk radio is not.