Censorship: The Threat to Silence Talk Radio [Audiobook, Unabridged] [Audio CD]

Brian Jennings (Author, Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 26, 2009

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.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Conservative talk-show programmer Jennings laments efforts by Democratic politicians to revive the Fairness Doctrine. The doctrine, enacted in 1979 and repealed by the Reagan administration in 1987, requires airing opposing viewpoints on television and radio. The huge popularity of conservative talk-radio programs and the consolidation of ownership of broadcasters has raised concerns about the need for more balanced voices. But Jennings argues that regular media, including NPR, and the Internet offer multiple channels for liberal views. He talked to conservative talk-show hosts Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Michael Savage, Laura Ingraham, and others (as well as liberals Alan Colmes and Ed Schultz) for perspectives on the Fairness Doctrine. After 40 years in radio, he offers historical perspective on the growth of conservative talk radio. It grew out of the pent-up frustration of conservative listeners and has maintained popularity because the shows have developed talent and listener loyalty over the years. In the name of free speech, Jennings invites liberals to do the same rather than make back-door efforts to re-regulate the airwaves. --Vanessa Bush --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"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 --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio; Unabridged edition (May 26, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743599071
• ISBN-13: 978-0743599078
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,721,544 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One good reason to avoid this book: NONE, May 5, 2009

By 

Brian H. Kim (Orange, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Censorship: The Threat to Silence Talk Radio (Hardcover)

Really, there isn't a good reason to avoid this book or as Alan Colmes (believe it or not) puts it, "you should not [stay way from this book]."

Whether we love to hear Rush Limbaugh do Barney Frank impressions and tell us about the clowns in the elected office or Alan Colmes praise Obama for reaching out to America's enemies and describing whether his stimulus plan is right, there is one thing all Americans left and right need to agree on: not only Freedom of Speech, but also our choice to listen to whatever we want, are under attack.

Brian Jennings even describe how nonpolitical talk shows like Christian shows WILL BE affected if the Statists and their army achieve their dream of government-controlled airwaves like from 1949 to 1987. Mr. Jennings also documents the history of the Fairness Doctrine, proves how liberal Democrats want a Fairness Doctrine in any shape, form or name in their own words even though the Senate has voted to ban the Fairness Doctrine conservatives have dreaded (never forget, however, that the Dick Durbin Amendment of possible regulations). He shows how America has benefitted from conservative talk radio and the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine in the markets and how and why the politicians wants to force us to listen to whatever they want us to hear instead of having the right to choose to listen to people like Limbaugh, Dr. Laura, Joe Scarabough, Savage, you name it all under a pretty name, fairness.

And the worst part is...this is all not a joke or exaggeration...

28 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for Whoever Cherishes the First Amendment, May 5, 2009

By 

C. Tang (Stillwater, OK USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Censorship: The Threat to Silence Talk Radio (Hardcover)

This is a must read to anyone who cherishes the freedom of speech. Disguised in deceitful terminology, the Fairness Doctrine has nothing fair in it. The left-wingers are threatened by the freedom of speech, especially by conservative talk radio shows, which expose many left-wingers' ideologies and hypocrisies that are detrimental to this great nation. Thus the left-wingers are currently campaigning for the reinstitution of the Fairness Doctrine: an attempt to control conservative voices.

If you care about the freedom of speech, you should read this book. It is time to get ourselves educated and not be blindsided by the politicians whose sole purpose of pushing for the Fairness Doctrine is to protect themselves from being exposed as hypocrites. The Fairness Doctrine is not only threatening talk radio, but it can also be expanded to silence the freedom of speech in the internet, which means conservative bloggers can be silenced as well.

16 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A look into the future, May 15, 2009

By 

don corsetti (tacoma, wa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Censorship: The Threat to Silence Talk Radio (Hardcover)

My wife and I could not put the book down. Informative and a wake up call to all of us who enjoy freedom.