FAIRNESS DOCTRINE Meaning and
Definition
-
The Fairness Doctrine refers to a policy that was implemented by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States between 1949 and 1987. This doctrine required licensed broadcasters to cover important issues of public concern in a fair, balanced, and equitable manner. It aimed to ensure that controversial topics were presented from multiple viewpoints, thus promoting media fairness and preventing any one perspective from dominating public discourse.
Under the Fairness Doctrine, broadcast license holders were obligated to allocate airtime for contrasting perspectives on significant subjects. This included political and social matters, providing a platform for diverse opinions. Moreover, broadcasters were mandated to give individuals and groups who felt they were personally attacked or maligned in a program an opportunity to respond and present their side of the story. This doctrine sought to guarantee that audiences were exposed to a range of ideas and arguments, fostering a more informed and democratic society.
However, the Fairness Doctrine faced criticism from some who believed that it inhibited free speech and limited the power of media outlets to decide what content they aired. Consequently, in 1987, the FCC abolished the doctrine, claiming that it was no longer necessary given the increasing diversity of media sources and platforms.
Overall, the Fairness Doctrine was an attempt to ensure balanced coverage of important public issues, encouraging media outlets to operate in the best interests of democratic discourse by presenting a range of perspectives and avoiding undue bias or concentration of power within the media landscape.
Common Misspellings for FAIRNESS DOCTRINE
- dairness doctrine
- cairness doctrine
- vairness doctrine
- gairness doctrine
- tairness doctrine
- rairness doctrine
- fzirness doctrine
- fsirness doctrine
- fwirness doctrine
- fqirness doctrine
- faurness doctrine
- fajrness doctrine
- fakrness doctrine
- faorness doctrine
- fa9rness doctrine
- fa8rness doctrine
- faieness doctrine
- faidness doctrine
- faifness doctrine
- faitness doctrine
Etymology of FAIRNESS DOCTRINE
The etymology of the phrase "fairness doctrine" can be broken down into two components: "fairness" and "doctrine".
The word "fairness" comes from the Old English word "fæger", which meant "beautiful" or "pleasing". Over time, its meaning expanded to include notions of justice, equity, and impartiality. The term "fairness" has remained relatively unchanged in its meaning since then.
The word "doctrine" is derived from the Latin word "doctrina", meaning "teaching" or "instruction". The Latin term itself is derived from the verb "docere", meaning "to teach". In English, "doctrine" refers to a principle, belief, or set of teachings that form the basis of a system or ideology.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
