Americans Must Defend Freedom of the Press Abroad and at Home
By Dr. Tony Magana
Recent events in Venezuela should remind us about the importance of protecting freedom of the press both abroad and at home. President Chavez is putting in place a Fairness Doctrine to control the media similar to those proposed by liberals in the United States like Congressman Hinchey (NY) and Speaker Pelosi.
This weekend 34 privately owned radio stations in Venezuela were shut down on the order of President Hugo Chavez because in his words, the government is going to “democratize the airwaves”. The Socialist supporters of Chavez complain that private enterprise and the international media are conspiring to give false information to the people.
This is only the beginning as the Chavez government is currently considering closing up to 200 more stations through out the country. Additionally, according to Reuters News Service, the Venezuela chief prosecutor is planning to draft new laws that would send anyone, who in the government’s opinion is spreading “false information that harms the interests of the state”, to prison.
The freedom of the press guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States is rarely found in other countries even democracies. Our neighbor to the south, Mexico practiced rather severe restriction of freedom of the press under the ruling party, PRI, until they were thrown out of the Presidency in 2000. More recently however, there have been increasing numbers of murders or other crimes against journalists in Mexico. In addition many arbitrary rules have been created to strictly regulate political advertising on television and radio in way that has returned significant power to the PRI , who now has regained a plurality of elected representatives in the Mexican Congress.
Unfortunately, it is not only Mexican politicians who want to control the press but even in America there are some calling for new restrictions. Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) has become the leading advocate for a movement to restrict the American press. Ever since talk radio attacked President Bill Clinton following the Monica Lewinski scandal, the radical left has openly sought to shut down conservative media.
Up until 1987, there was in place an FCC rule called the “Fairness Doctrine” which required that broadcasters provide opposing views of issues in order to keep their broadcasting licenses. Hinchey is sponsoring legislation that would allow federal regulators to arbitrarily determine the balance and fairness of debate and also control who would own media outlets throughout the country. Hinchey’s reasons for doing so amazingly seem to echo those of Hugo Chavez.
To further protect the Constitutionally guaranteed right of the freedom of the press the Broadcaster Freedom Act of 2009 was introduced in January of this year. The bill’s sponsors are Republican Senators Jim DeMint (SC) and John Thune (SD) as well as House members Mike Pence (IN) and Greg Walden (OR).
The sponsors warn that the real goal of re-instituting the Fairness Doctrine is to allow the government to cherry pick what issues it wants to call “controversial” and thus stop their discussion by conservatives. The rules as written in the legislation by Congressman Hinchey could allow a liberal slanted government to call liberal issues not controversial effectively stymieing any opposition. If adopted, for example, Christian radio stations might have put on atheists to counter religious broadcasts.
The current freedom of the press allows the American public to listen to many different sources of information and opinion. Although the printed press is in decline it has been replaced by a massive cyber-world of ideas on the internet and 24 hour news cable networks. The American public can hear leftist idealism on Link television, MSNBC, or read it on the Huffington Post, Daily Kos, and the king of the American media, The New York Times, which remains the most read news website in the world. They can compare this by looking or reading Fox News or the Wall Street Journal and others like this blog. The only conclusion that can be drawn about the intentions of Congressman Hinchey and his associates like Speaker Nancy Pelosi is that they want to have control like Hugo Chavez.
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Government control of the media can be more powerful than any army because it can control the flow of information that allows a free society to make good decisions in government. Our government must publicly condemn the actions of Hugo Chavez and even more importantly cast aside any dispersions of reinstating the Fairness Doctrine. If America loses the precious value of the freedom of press at home and does not denounce it abroad that will only give further license to more severe actions by Hugo Chavez and his political clones.
Thanks for reading Contempo Magazine blog which discusses issues for McAllen, the Rio Grande Valley, and America from a conservative Hispanic point of view. Tony Magaña grew up in McAllen Texas, attended Texas A&M University, served as an officer in Army Reserve, and holds a doctorate from Harvard University. The co-founder of Contempo Magazine has participated in Valley business for over 20 years. He is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and also writes for the American Daily Review. Follow him on twitter http://twitter.com/contempomagazin
Copyright 2009, Dr. Tony Magana. Some rights reserved.
To reproduce or distribute, visit: drtonymagana.icopyright.com
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