Evening star., 1960-03-13
Free Air

David Lawrence's column,
Liberals and Authoritar-
ians," asserts that the broad
casting industry is entitled to
a carte blanche under the
principle of free speech to set
its own standards for broad
casting. Mr.. Lawrence tries
to create a non-existent par
allel between the freedom of
the press from government
tai control and the situation
of the radio and television
media which are licensed by
the United States Govern
ment. While praiSing CHS
President Frank Stanton's
statement claiming an un-
restricted television industry,
he denounces the stand taken
by the American Civil Liber-
ties Union advocating FEC
enforcement Of qualified ra-
dio-television programming.
Walter Lippmann pointed
out the 1927 law licensing
radio stations was originally
intended to preserve this
medium for public benefit.
But today both of the great
communication media are
virtually independent from
any Government regulation
due to the refusal of the FEC
to do its duty. AS a result,
all sorts Of mediocrity and
trash have been unleashed
upon a helpless public. 1t was
the extreme reluctance Of the
FEC to exercise its regulatory
powers which permitted such
corruption as quiz show de-
ception on TV and disc jock
ey payola in radio. Yet Mr..
Lawrence is Mortified by any
prospect of regulation on the
part of Government. He ad-
vocates that certain individ-
ualS who run the networks
should have priority over the
vast audience who must con-
tent themselves with any,
thing these individuals care
to propagate. He concludes
that those in favor OF any
kind OF Government super
vision over its own airways
are authoritarians and that
complete Government alb
dication from responsibility
for the broadcasting industry
is the only course for true
liberals to pursue.
Mr.. Lawrence points out
that in most American cities
there is only one newspaper
ownership while there are
several competing TV and
radio stations. However, as
Mr.. Lippmann correctly
stated. these three or four
stations control all that can
be received over a wide range
OF territory. On the other
hand II a man does not like
his newspaper, there are
weeklies, monthlies, out-of-
town newspapers and books.
II a man does not like what
the television networks offer
him, his only alternative is to
turn off the set. In other
words, televiSion has a mo-
nopoly while newspapers do
not. Certainly, what is seen
on T'V has a profound effect
on the moral and intellectual
outlook of the viewing public.
The TV industry has long
been playing down to the
intelligence Of the American
people. Recently there has
been some improvement in
the level Of programming,
but mediocrity still predomi-
mates. Because of the lack of
enlightened. educational fea-
lures many thinking people
have condemned the idiot
box" as an utter failure in
realizing its potentialities.
Mr.. Lippmann's yardstick
proposal to establish a net
work to be used strictly in
the public interest deserves
careful consideration by the
Government and wholeheart-
ed support from the long
suffering public.
Calvin G. Z0n.
\ y .
Why does the press, radio
and TV bloc exhibit such in
consistency in Federal-con-
troll questions?
This bloc" screams in in
dignation at any suggestion
that the Federal Government
exercise controls already
granted over press, radio and
TV, yet is the most vehement
group In demanding Federal
legislation to force thought
control on the people Of the
Southern States; even to the
extent of taxing the whole
country to provide funds to