FCC and Right-Wing Radio Helping U.S. Press Freedom Slip Away (Molly Ivins Alert)

Creators Syndicate via sltrib.com ^ | 02/03/2003 | Molly Ivins

[cactusSharp]

Molly Ivans once won a blue ribbon in the
hay eating category at the Texas Fair.

[mg39]

She's absolutely right.

[BlueLancer]

"The U.S. now ranks 17th, below Costa Rica and Slovenia, on the worldwide index of press freedom established by the Reporters Without Borders."

Now, there's an unbiased group to make the judgment.
(sarcasm ... off)

In other words, unless your reporting is done in such a manner that no one can tell within which border you're writing your articles or expounding on your radio program, it's slanted and unfair.

Piffle. Molly would only look good with an apple in her mouth, surrounded by potatoes, on top of coals in a hole in the ground. Her inate intelligence is about on par with that level of organism as well.

[Blood of Tyrants]

I am sure the Molly Ivans would fix that by prohibiting non-politically correct speech from being uttered.

[BlueLancer]

"The spectrum of opinion on national political commercial talk radio shows ranges from extreme right wing to very extreme right wing -- there is virtually nothing else."

I wonder where my favorite stations belonging to the "Attila the Hun Broadcasting Network" fall into that range.

[ken5050]

Has anyone ever seen Molly Ivans and Helen Thomas at the same time?

[calvin sun]

Ms. Ivins, why the fuss? We the people have alternate sources for news besides radio, TV and newspapers. It's called the Internet and specifically sites such as Free Republic.

[CyberAnt]

"less local news and local programming"

Not true!! But then since when did Molly ever tell the truth about anything.

I sent her an e-mail once complaining about something she said. Instead of explaining her point - she personally attacked me with the most viscious and mean-spirited statements. I was stunned when I read it.

Since then, I don't even pay attention to her.

[philosofy123]

Rush IS equal time!

[JeeperFreeper]

Simplistic left wing drivel. Liberals no longer have a monopoly on content, so now it's time cry "foul". Plus, many of us use the internet to find things out. Again, the left cries "foul".
No left wing radio??? It's been tried by Jim Hightower and, as I was reminded by a smart FReeper, Mario Cuomoalso tried his voice at the microphone. Both shows stunk. Both shows were cancelled. If listeners want hours of whining and comnplaining they can go to a nursery school.

[Phantom Lord]

In 1987, FCC commissioners appointed by Ronald Reagan repealed the Fairness Doctrine, and that has already had a stunning effect on political debate in this country.

In other words, Molly is upset that the conservative point of view is getting out and causing the liberals to lose elections.

[Dan from Michigan]

You gotta remember one thing Molly Ivans and commies like her consider ABCCNNCBSNBC conservative and the NY Slimes/Washington Postal "Middle of the road".

[Phantom Lord]

"less local news and local programming"

A large portion of the AM radio chanells that carry Rush are almost totally dedicated to "local" news and issues. In the 3 cities i have lived in the past 15 years, Rush was carried on the LOCAL news station. And outside of Rush and a couple other syndicated shows the rest of the programming was local.

[Phantom Lord]

"less local news and local programming"

Further on this issue, wasn't one of the biggest obstacles facing Rush when he started his journey to national greatness that he had to overcome program managers objections to his "national" focus? They all said he would fail because AM radio listeners wanted "local" programming and information.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Wonder who wrote this for dear Molly ?

[cactusSharp]

Molly Ivans and Helen Thomas cannot be one the same acre...takes an acre a cow just to feed em

[RAT Patrol]

Molly Ivins = Verbal Stench

[wayoverontheright]

"the widest possible dissemination of information from diverse and antagonistic sources is essential to the welfare of the people."

And this can only happen, as has been proven time and time again, with the free market. What Ms Ivins is advocating of course, is more government control of both content and entry into the market. No single entity could control the "dissemination of information" in a free market because it would be consumer driven. Even if you owned them all, you'd still have to give people what they want.

I would prefer a single, powerful corporate entity any day to a single, powerful government one.

[Semper Paratus]

Has anyone ever seen Molly Ivans and Helen Thomas at the same time?

That scenario gave me pause.