TresSugar

47% Favor Laws to Create Political Balance on TV - Do You?

CitizenSugar — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:00:21 PDT

So we asked this question a while back when we were talking about the Fairness Doctrine - should the government mandate political balance on TV and radio? Now Rasmussen has polled on it, and it turns out nearly half - 47 percent - think this is a great idea.

It seems that thought doesn't extend to the Internet. The survey found that 57 percent said the government should not require websites and blogs to present opposing viewpoints (though 31 percent said the net should keep it fair and balanced.) The pretty even split seems to mirror so many aspects of the US political landscape - and there's a whole landscape of opinions about it out there from folks who think the Fairness Doctrine could "correct" any pro-Obama media bias, to Christian stations who are nervous that a return of the 1949 FCC policy could dampen their ability to preach the Gospel.

Where do you fall on the spectrum? Are you anti-Fairness Doctrine, would you like to see it cover all media, or leave the web alone?

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Media Stars Flood Obama Iraq Trip: Wildly Unfair Reporting?

CitizenSugar — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 06:00:35 PDT

Though only 36 percent of you said Obama should pack his bags and head off to Iraq ASAP, he's going - and along with him, a bevy of high-profile journalists, to cover the trip from stem to stern. Who's hopping on board? All three major network news anchors for starters, meaning that evening newscasts will be broadcast from Obama's Middle Eastern vacation, undoubtedly giving it huge play. And about 200 other journalists for good measure.

Who went with McCain on his last trip to Iraq? Only a handful of reporters, plus NBC's Brian Williams (who's actually going on the Obama trip) reported on McCain's from the comfort of New York, in the "other political news" segment. Hmm. That scale seems a little out of balance. In fact, McCain has taken three foreign trips in the past four months, and not one network anchor has accompanied him.

And it's not just trips, the arguably smaller stories swirling around Obama, Jackson's nuts-gate for one, have all but eclipsed coverage of McCain, even though he is indeed still campaigning, and making policy declarations - like the fact that he thinks the Social Security system is an "absolute disgrace." The story disparity between Jackson and Social Security? 126 to 20. Is it becoming clear that mainstream news has tipped the balance to focusing on all-Obama, all the time? Is the Fairness Doctrine looking more and more necessary?

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Link Time! 6/26

BuzzSugar — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:30:28 PDT

Cinematical ecstatically shares the news that the first review of The Dark Knight is positively glowing.
E!'s Watch With Kristin has the juicy scoop on who Cuddy's new love interest will be on House.
Should stations be required to present diverse viewpoints? CitizenSugar takes a look at the battle over the Fairness Doctrine.
TV Squad rates the Buffy the Vampire Slayer online trivia quizzes so you don't have to.
Showgirls: The Musical? Yup, that's what FilmExperience - and Gina Gershon - are talking about.
TV Filter has an open letter to the writers of My Boys.
Stereogum takes a look at what's playing on Barack Obama's iPod.
While you're waiting for the end of Battlestar Galactica, take geeksugar's midseason recap quiz.

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Should Stations Be Required to Present Diverse Viewpoints?

LibertySugar — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:00:47 PDT

The House of Representatives will most likely not debate a Republican proposed bill to outlaw the "Fairness Doctrine." The FCC stopped using the Fairness Doctrine, which attempted to ensure equal airtime for different perspectives on controversial issues, during the Reagan Administration. Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested Tuesday that Democrats would rather revive the federal policy of forced evenhandedness.

Critics of the Fairness Doctrine argue that it violates the First Amendment. Instead of facilitating complex debates, equal opportunity resulted in no opportunity for controversial discussions. Some of Speaker Pelosi's opponents worry that if the doctrine is revived, this chilling effect would extend to commentators like Rush Limbaugh. Small stations, which cannot afford a counter to Rush, would simply not talk about tough issues.

Should the Fairness Doctrine be put to rest, as there surely is no lack of space in the radio and cable television sphere? Can we rely on the viewers to judge a station's bias - and how bias is too bias?

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