Freedom of Expression on the Air

• Published date: 01 July 1955
• Date: 01 July 1955
• DOI: 10.1177/000271625530000104
• Author: Harold E. Fellows
• Subject Matter: Articles

Freedom of Expression on the Air
By HAROLD E. FELLOWS
BEFORE dealing with the subject as- appear to be a blessing. Not infre-
signed to me, &dquo;Freedom of Expres-
quently we hear a citizen of determined
sion on the Air,&dquo; permit me to qualify
political and economic persuasion say,
myself as a witness. I speak neither as
&dquo;I dislike so-and-so personally, despair
a political scientist nor as a social sci-
of his opinions, but I’m going to tune
entist, making no pretense to be either.
in on the scoundrel again tonight just
What I shall try to do is to reflect the
to see what crazy theory he is now
opinion of broadcasters about the sub-
expounding.&dquo; Psychiatrists may under-
ject at hand-the majority opinion, if
stand this urge toward self-induced tor-
you will, since there is no unanimity
ture in which the victim is powerless
about certain aspects of this difficult
to do anything but mutter angrily at
problem even among broadcasters them-
a vision on a screen or at the sound
selves.
of a broadcast voice.
I do not.
At
This is an appropriate environment,
all events, let us assume &dquo;no commen-
perhaps even a sympathetic one, in
tators&dquo;-no well-known, coast-to-coast
which to make such observations as I
headliners, and none of the hundreds of
shall offer.
For here lived Benjamin
others who broadcast locally in com-
Franklin, the sage who contributed so
munities all over America.
richly to the heritage of a free press in
In the total absence of freedom of ex-
the United States and who also, with a
pression, there would be no politicians
kite and a key, revealed a phenomenon
on the air either.
Office seekers would
which one day would lead to the de-
have to campaign without radio and
velopment of another great mass me-
television, resorting to the stump speech
dium.
and assembly hall of another year.
And officeholders would be barred from
WITHOUT FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
speaking on the air-for which among
Let us assume at the outset, merely
them could speak without expressing an
to establish a background for discus-
opinion that would do violence to the
sion, that freedom of expression were
prohibition against freedom of expres-
not permitted on the air under any cir-
sion ?
cumstances.
A ridiculous concept, of
Naturally there would be no place for
course, in light of the declarations and
the pulpit, either. No faith or sect
charters which assure freedom in our
could be permitted to bespeak the vir-
unique system; but a concept which,
tues of its creed during such a blackout
you and I know, might be looked upon
of opinion.
with favor even in some quarters of this
Surely we could not cover, by micro-
liberty-loving nation.
phone or camera, the great political con-
Were freedom of expression absolutely
ventions, for these represent nothing but
denied, the character of broadcasting
a cacophony of opinion, some good and
would be in sharp contrast to that which
some bad, but all born of conviction
exists today.
loudly proclaimed. It is very doubtful
There would be no commentators.
that a Presidential inaugural could be
This, according to one’s lights, might
broadcast, and most certainly scientists,
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14
scholars, and teachers would be for-
final emergence from licensing authority.
bidden.
These restraints are likely to continue,
Actually, in the strictest interpreta-
whatever the identity of the party in
tion of the premise, if there were no
power-for broadcasting will undoubt-
freedom of expression whatever the air
edly continue to be subject to licensing
would be silent: for a drama of purest
so long as its existence derives from the
fiction can express a point of view, and
use of channels that require assignment.
even music may provoke thought.
WHAT MEASURE OF FREEDOM?
But how long would such silence pre-
vail ? Not very long in this industry,
I believe we would agree that a broad-
for this industry-by necessity-is li-
casting system which permitted of no
censed by the federal government. Of-
freedom of expression whatever would
ficeholders, the most innocent among
be incongruously out of balance with
them, would see quickly the usefulness
our nation’s concept of government by
of such a massive instrument of com-
the governed. The air waves must re-
munication. Here, under proper con-
main free.
What, then, shall be the
trol, the incumbent government could
measure of that freedom?
Free, yes-
project its viewpoint without fear of
but to what degree? A mechanic may
contradiction, except in other media.
give a different answer from a profes-
Here would be the ready weapon of the
sor ; a government career man a differ-
unscrupulous man to perpetuate himself
ent answer from an editor; a political
in office. Here would exist the pattern
scientist a different answer from a law-
for...