Restore Honesty and Honor to TV News Networks

The trust that we held in TV journalism has eroded with the influence of conglomerates like Comcast, News-Corp, Time Warner, etc. These corporate owners' opinions are nationally telecast in a strongly-biased facade of 'news reporting' that has no room for opposing viewpoints. Dogmatism is presented as fact in despicable attempts to sway viewers' opinions.

The Fairness Doctrine introduced in 1949 was a policy that required the holders of broadcast licenses to (1) present controversial issues of public importance and (2) to do so in an honest, equitable and balanced manner. it didn't require equal time be given for opposing views. The purpose of the doctrine was to ensure that viewers were exposed to a diversity of viewpoints. We still deserve that, but the FCC eliminated the Doctrine in 1987.

Canada requires TV stations to refrain from broadcasting "false or misleading news," despite an attempt three years ago to ease these rules that was met with widespread viewer outrage. FCC, why didn't you ask us what we wanted when you ended the Doctrine?

The Fox Network, in particular, is the most egregious offender. Fox has become a national joke, an international humiliation. They've mastered the art of deceiving viewers with passive, non-committal catch phrases such as 'Some people say...' that pass as popular opinion to much of their audience.

YOU, the FCC, KNOW, along with the rest of the country, that Fox is functioning as nothing more than another arm of the GOP. You have an ethical responsibility to keep lies and deception from being disguised as truth. It's your responsibility to protect viewers by holding news organizations to an ethical set of standards.

You've played a significant role in the 'dumbing-down' of our nation, but you can still redeem your honor. There are steps you can take now. You can:

1) Hold the Fox News Network, MSNBC, CNN and all news networks to a standard of at least 75% honesty and accuracy; or,

2) Demand the Fox News Network remove the word 'News' from their name and advertisements; or,

3) Demand Fox temporarily re-brand itself as the 'Fox Entertainment Network' until it achieves a recurring rate of at least 75% news rather than opinion commentaries, with a minimum of 75% honesty, or

4) Limit the hours of Fox News broadcasting to 10 pm - 7 am, Monday through Friday, to restrict its audience to more adult viewers, or

5) When phrases such as 'Some people say' are spoken on a news network, require an adequately-sized graphic be displayed citing the independent poll referenced with a breakdown by numbers and/or percentages of what all respondents thought of the issue. or

6) When any host's opinion is shared, require an 'Unsubstantiated' or 'Opinion, Not Factual Information' graphic be displayed on the screen throughout that segment.

7) Restore the Fairness Doctrine introduced in 1949, adding an update that opposing opinions be presented on the same network as the original opinion. With the myriad of networks available now, this is the only way to ensure opposing sides are also considered.