I am writing today to announce the closure of the Michigan Messenger. After four years of operation in Michigan, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news into a single site, The American Independent at Americanindependent.com. This is part of a shift in strategy, towards new forms [...]
An abstinence-only presentation provided to numerous school districts in Calhoun and Eaton Counties in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.
Two county registers of deeds filed a class action lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michigan’s 83 counties alleging that the Mortgage Electronic Registration Services owes millions of dollars in property title transfer taxes.
Despite evidence of the impact of mercury on children and public health, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last month joined with 24 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to scuttle new EPA regulations that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants.
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) has come out publicly in favor of reinstating the Fairness Doctrine that required the broadcast media to show “balance” in presenting both sides of an issue. Politico reports on the following conversation that took place on a radio show hosted by Bill Press:
BILL PRESS: Yeah, I mean, look: They have a right to say that. They’ve got a right to express that. But, they should not be the only voices heard. So, is it time to bring back the Fairness Doctrine?
SENATOR DEBBIE STABENOW (D-MI): I think it’s absolutely time to pass a standard. Now, whether it’s called the Fairness Standard, whether it’s called something else — I absolutely think it’s time to be bringing accountability to the airwaves. I mean, our new president has talked rightly about accountability and transparency. You know, that we all have to step up and be responsible. And, I think in this case, there needs to be some accountability and standards put in place.
BILL PRESS: Can we count on you to push for some hearings in the United States Senate this year, to bring these owners in and hold them accountable?
SENATOR DEBBIE STABENOW (D-MI): I have already had some discussions with colleagues and, you know, I feel like that’s gonna happen. Yep.
President Obama has made statements opposed to the Fairness Doctrine and he is correct to do so. Returning to that outdated idea is both unnecessary and dangerous. Never before have we had the diversity of news and information sources we have today. Television and radio are rapidly declining in influence as the internet takes over, especially among younger people, and the internet is far and away the most varied and diverse forum for news and comment the world has ever seen.
The danger of the idea is in figuring out what constitutes “balance” and giving government the power to decide that question. Would you have trusted Bush and Cheney with the power to decide whether a given radio talk show or cable TV talk show host is showing adequate balance or not? I certainly wouldn’t.
And yes, the fact that I host a weekly political talk show on the radio does have something to do with my opinion.
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