Departmental Papers (ASC)
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of this Version
2018
Publication Source
International Journal of Communication
Volume
12
Start Page
3434
Last Page
3453
Abstract
The Fairness Doctrine, one of the most famous and controversial media policies ever enacted, suffered a final deathblow in August 2011 when the Federal Communications Commission permanently struck it from the books. However, the Doctrine continues to be invoked by proponents and detractors alike. Using mixed methods, this study historically contextualizes the Fairness Doctrine while drawing attention to how it figures within contemporary regulatory debates. By tracing over time the shifting ideologies and discourses surrounding the Fairness Doctrine, we can see how political conflict shapes the normative foundations of core media policies, especially those involving positive freedoms.
Copyright/Permission Statement
This work was published in the International Journal of Communication. It is made available under Creative Commons license. The original work can be found here: https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/5787
Keywords
Fairness Doctrine, positive freedoms, media policy, media history
Recommended Citation
Pickard, V. (2018). The Strange Life and Death of the Fairness Doctrine: Tracing the Decline of Positive Freedoms in American Policy Discourse. International Journal of Communication, 12 3434-3453. Retrieved from https://repository.upenn.edu/asc_papers/745
Date Posted: 12 November 2019
This document has been peer reviewed.