Censorship: The Threat to Silence Talk Radio

by Brian Jennings Narrated by Jesse Boggs, Brian Jennings

Overview

Freedom of speech. It is our most cherished privilege as Americans, guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution since 1791.

But our current presidential administration threatens to sharply curtail or silence altogether the freedom of expression that distinguishes America from the average dictatorship. What is under direct attack? Conservative talk radio.

During the Reagan administration, conservative talk radio burgeoned when the FCC voted to stop enforcing the Fairness Doctrine, which required all licensed broadcasters to present "balanced" viewpoints on controversial issues. The format was a smash hit, attracting an estimated 50 million listeners weekly. Popular, profitable, outspoken, powerful, influential-it's what the American people wanted, and its success was the Democrats' worst nightmare.

Now, the principles underlying the Fairness Doctrine threaten to be reinstated. Under cover of being "fair," they will be used as a means of censorship, allowing government to influence who owns our airwaves and thus controls the content, a mandate with far-reaching implications for all media-indeed, for freedom of speech for all Americans.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"Brian Jennings' long and fruitful career in radio gives him an excellent vantage point on what can really happen to free speech on the radio if we're not careful. Censorship is his call to action!" — Rush Limbaugh

"A must read for everyone who values the First Amendment." — Mark R. Levin, nationally syndicated radio host and New York Times bestselling author of Liberty and Tyranny

"Brian Jennings' book correctly chronicles how my father, President Reagan, felt about the Fairness Doctrine. The book is a testament to free speech and if the President were here today, he would read and endorse this book." — Michael Reagan

"Brian Jennings eloquently explains how whatever you consume, in whatever medium, is none of Big Brother's business. Although the government may stay away from this book, you should not." — Alan Colmes

"Brian Jennings knows what the badly named Fairness Doctrine would do to stop the flow of information and the free exchange of opinions talk radio offers as the most successful and prolific format on radio in America. Censorship exposes the real danger that our representative form of government faces if selfish members of that same government succeed in effectively outlawing talk radio as we know it today." — Lars Larson, The Lars Larson Show, KXL Radio, Portland, Oregon

"Brian Jennings' excellent book shines a contemporary light via his frontline experience in talk radio on yet the latest assault on our society's most valuable treasure — freedom of speech." — Michael Harrison, publisher, Talkers magazine

JULY 2009 - AudioFile

The narrator of this audiobook would not allow his name to be divulged. The author begins by saying it’s not his intent to offend, though the book clearly will do just that by its premise and repetitive message from one political viewpoint. Conservative talk show programmer Jennings is against any attempt to revive the Fairness Doctrine in broadcasting, repealed by the Reagan administration. The narration is wholly appropriate. While he doesn't shout as many broadcasters do nowadays, the narrator brings an energy that convinces one to listen. Who the book's listeners are remains unclear: Conservatives are already in tune with the myriad of right-wing talkers; liberals will not like eight hours of criticism about a nonexistent issue. End-of-chapter messages labeled "Straight Ahead" are good indicators of what is to come. M.B. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170625956
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster
Publication date:	05/05/2009
Edition description:	Unabridged

Videos