This week we finally heed the call to Unf*ck the Federal Communications Commission (FCC.) We don’t get all the way there (it’s been around since 1934) but we manage to tackle the fairness doctrine, which was intended to provide balance and equal time in broadcasting and was repealed in 1987. Many credit this Reagan-era move as the beginning of the end of civility, leading to the divide in the nation today. But, of course, the story behind the doctrine is far more nuanced. We review a history of the FCC, its limitations and whether or not the fairness doctrine ever really had a place in America given the natural tension with the First Amendment.

Visit the episode's accompanying site page.

Chapters

Intro: 00:03:53

Chapter One: What is the FCC and why should we give a shit? 00:04:51

Chapter Two: To be fair, it was never really a doctrine. 00:13:35

Chapter Three: Fairness in the eye of the withholder. 00:24:57

Chapter Four: Bring it home, Max. 00:33:27

Post Show Musings: 00:39:36

Book Love: 00:40:22

Outro: 00:49:35

Resources

FCC Website

Congressional Quarterly: Broadcasting Deregulation

UNFTR Episode Resources

Manufacturing Dissent: How We Let an Aussie Destroy the U.S.

The Economics of Racism: Bootstraps, Black Banks and Redlining.

Book Love

Steven J. Simmons: The Fairness Doctrine and the Media

Brian J. Karem: Free the Press: The Death of American Journalism and How to Revive It

Ken Auletta: Backstory: Inside the Business of News

Bernard Harcourt: The Illusion of Free Markets: Punishment and the Myth of Natural Order

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Unf*cking the Republic is produced by 99 and engineered by Manny Faces Media (mannyfacesmedia.com). Original music is by Tom McGovern (tommcgovern.com). The show is written by free speech and distributed by shut the fuck up.

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