Complete Murrow Speech From Good Night, and Good Luck

Journalism ceased being a profession in America decades ago.

Lenhart,

I agree with you on everything except your view on the fairness doctrine. In reality, the fairness doctrine MANDATED certain kinds of speech. There is no freedom if someone is telling you what to broadcasts.

It didn't guarantee independent voices at all, it guaranteed more liberal voices on the airwaves. It was a good idea that turned into a broken system.

>> It was a good idea that turned into a broken system.

Like so many.

I worked for YEARS under the Fairness Doctrine. It DID NOT mandate content whatsoever.

It ensured that dissent was heard, opposing views considered, debate thrived.

Today --BLOW HARDS given cover by a handful of HUGE CORPORATIONS who would rather you NOT voice YOUR views at all.

I speak as a former network journalist and News Director of news organizations in one of the top four markets in the nation.

I did not know Murrow, but was fortunate enough to have met a few of his 'boys'.

US media is dominated by about six or even fewer (by the time I post) huge media conglomerates.

There are no substantive debates; all are on the same end of the political spectrum. Fox is just the worst of the rotten applies. Limbaugh the most appallingly supid.

The Fairness Doctrine guaranteed independent voices but the right wing administrations of Reagan and Bush put a stop to that.

From experience: the Fairness Doctrine DID NOT restrict free speech. Rather, it guaranteed it.

This speech is COMMING to "haunt "us.
All those years ago , a man had the foresight to see what "mass media "will become.
Bogged down in-------------DROSS!
Entertainment?-what ever that means?-----"light relief "-----there is a place for it BUT!!-not dominating the air waves?
It only takes minutes to scan through the television roster to see that-we get the same old thing-------police shows , medical shows , "dancing with the stars??"( mumma talk about self promotion? )
Steve

All news and current affairs reporters should watch this speech!

olbermann is a thousand times more informative than limbaugh

50 years on and who would change a word.
It should be broadcast everyday on every network.
Not to make the public think but to invite journalists to join in the thought process. Good night and good luck, indeed.

no room for human error? I think fox has a clear record of troop advocation, otherwise this may be valid but it seems like a mistake to me.