The FCC, The First Amendment, and The News That Used to Be News
The airwaves are public property. Broadcast licenses are issued in the public trust — not as private rights but as public obligations. The entity that receives a license to use the public airwaves accepts a responsibility to serve the public interest. That was the founding principle. That was the deal.
Somewhere along the way the deal changed.
I can remember when the news was presented as news. Facts. This is what is happening. If an outlet wanted to offer opinion it was called an editorial and labeled as such. The separation was clear and it was honored because the public expected it and the license required it.
