Edward Monks

From 1949 to 1987, the Federal Communications Commission, the government agency that regulates the nation’s airwaves, had a Fairness Doctrine that required that radio and television stations air a variety of opposing views whenever political issues were discussed. In the viewpoint that follows, Edward Monks describes how the regulation was abolished in the 1980s under President Ronald Reagan. The political content of talk radio shows and other media programs are now dominated by conservatives who support the views of broadcast station owners and advertisers, he claims, a development he considers harmful to the public. Monks is a lawyer from Eugene, Oregon.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. How is the radio market of Eugene, Oregon, reflective of national trends, according to Monks?
2. What have been some of...