The Fairness Doctrine

The Fairness Doctrine was a policy implemented by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States from 1949 to 1987. It required broadcasters to present multiple viewpoints on controversial issues, ensuring that audiences received a balanced perspective. This meant that if a station aired one side of a debate, it had to provide airtime for opposing views. The goal was to promote fair and diverse discourse in the media. However, the doctrine was eliminated in 1987, with the belief that the marketplace of ideas would suffice to encourage a variety of opinions without government intervention.