Earlier today a protest planned and organized by Orson took place outside of the Washington, DC headquarters of CNN. Called “March in March for Equal Airtime,” this protest and march called on CNN and other media outlets to provide equal coverage to all presidential candidates. On the Democratic side, this means not just covering incumbent President Joe Biden.
Section 315 of the Communications Act, known as the equal opportunities requirement (commonly referred to as the “equal-time rule”), says that when a broadcast station allows any “legally qualified candidate” – whether for federal, state, or local office – to “use” its facilities, it must provide “equal opportunities” to all other legally qualified candidates for the same office.
It’s been obvious for almost a year now that such equal airtime has not been – and is not being – given to Democratic presidential candidates Marianne Williamson and Dean Phillips. It’s a situation that profoundly undermines democracy. All the more reason, then, to be grateful for those who gathered with Orson to highlight this travesty outside of CNN in Washington, DC today.
Related Off-site Links:
The Equal Time Rule Is Anything But – Sydney Snower (Federal Communications Law Journal, January 2021).
Do the Networks Have to Give Equal Time? In a Word, No – Al Tompkins (Poynter, January 8, 2019).
See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
• Bernie Sanders and the Corporate Media
• A Reign of Ignorance and Fear in the U.S.
• Jeff Cohen: Quote of the Day – February 28, 2022
• Amy Goodman and the “Sacred Responsibility” of Listening
• Now Here’s a Voice I’d Like to Hear Regularly on the Sunday Morning Talk Shows
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