Week 5: Final Research Project and Student Response

WednesdayMar 21 at 2:49pm

Manage Discussion Entry

When broadcasters in the 1920s welcomed government regulation, do you think they benefited from the government intervention? Why or why not? Do you think that these regulations have “kept with the times,” allowing for appropriate freedoms while maintaining appropriate privacies? Where do you see federal or state regulations going in the next ten to twenty years, and how will that impact you as a journalist?

When broadcasters welcomed government regulation in the 1920s I think that it was a bittersweet choice. Having the government intervene in the 1920s was a good idea because it helped regulate broadcasters, it helped give broadcasters a foundation to follow, which allowed competitiveness and growth within the media industry. The government also helps control what is being broadcasted in and out of the country which I believe was a good move to make because it can keep an eye on everything and everyone to a certain degree. I believe having the government intervene helps prevent war and pure chaos taking over. I believe that government regulations have "kept with the times" and will continue to do so. The regulations implemented by the government are going to be forever changing because society is forever changing. As time progresses so should regulations.

Having appropriate freedoms is a great thing that I think the government has allowed for some time now but, with the new controversy of "net neutrality" where the government allows internet service providers to treat all data the same. This is a hypocritical decision because as stated by the FCC, their number 1 strategic rule is, "Promote the expansion of competitive telecommunications networks, which are a vital component of technological innovation and economic growth and help to ensure that the U.S. remains a leader in providing its citizens opportunities for economic and educational development." To promote competitiveness, you don't take away the differences that help make the telecommunications thrive. I hope to see less state and federal intervention except when it is crucial and important. As a journalist, I need to be able to have appropriate freedoms because that is my job, and once that is taken away or given more limitations then I have no career.

Although I believe that government intervention into broadcast was a good idea initially, I also think that sometimes the government has to much power of media.

References:

Federal Communications Commission. (2010, November 15). Federal Communications Commission (FCC) (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. Retrieved from http://www.fcc.gov/ (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.