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"In Democracy Without Journalism? Pickard outlines a series of proposals to create a more robust news media in the United States and thus a more democratic society."

"He calls for the creation of a fund that would support local journalism, especially in the country?s growing number of news deserts, and for stronger privacy restrictions and more regulatory bodies to prevent further consolidation in the industry. All of these policies are perfectly reasonable and, as Pickard shows in the book?s sections on other countries, are currently enjoyed by many other parts of the world. But he also recognizes that the notion of a government-funded media system remains anathema to many in the United States... In his book?s last chapters, Pickard surveys many of the ongoing battles between Republicans and Democrats over the role of the FCC, as well as the prospect of more public subsidies for newspapers, radio, and television. Instead of effective corporate regulation, the Fairness Doctrine?the 1949 replacement for the Mayflower Doctrine, which constrained broadcasters from editorializing?had long served as a consolation prize for media reformers. It required broadcasters to cover socially important issues and to fairly present opposing sides. But even that proved too much for Republicans, who repeatedly framed the policy as an attack on broadcasters? free speech until it was revoked by Congress in 1987."

Full post as published by Althouse on October 09, 2020 (boomark / email).