In the 1960s and ‘70s when you watched Walter Cronkite or Huntley-Brinkley, people had a high degree of confidence that what was said was true. During the Reagan administration, the FCC Fairness Doctrine — which stated that broadcast stations were licensed to use the public airwaves but must use due diligence in presenting the news as a public service — was eliminated. When this policy was struck down, it opened the door for the distortions of Rush Limbaugh and other talk radio hosts; the rise of unregulated cable television brought on Fox News and more.
As mentioned in Mona Charen’s column “Lou Dobbs debunks himself” (Dec. 26, TribLIVE), “Fox et al. are propagandists and provocateurs.” They distort the news for profit, political bias and entertainment.
The desecration of our Capitol and our democracy that we witnessed Jan. 6 was a direct result of the lies perpetrated by Fox, OAN, Newsmax and Facebook posters. We now have a sizable segment of our society that believes in bizarre conspiracy theories and believes Donald Trump when he claims the election was stolen, no matter how improbable. They are willing to do physical harm to fellow Americans for Trump. If you want honesty back in the news, ask your representative to reinstate due diligence for the media.
We must not forget the complicity of the Republicans. I will never understand why they continue to enable Trump, this corrupt, lawless president who does not seem to believe in democracy and who I believe is a fascist.
Patricia Oliver
North Huntingdon