The FCC To Jack Boot Into America's Newsrooms

The FCC has a new plan to place the government into U.S. newsrooms, supposedly for the purpose of learning all about how editorial decisions are made and look for "angry reporters whose story ideas were rejected as evidence of a shutout of minority views."  

Ajit Pai, a commissioner with the Federal Communications Commission, warned last week in a Wall Street Journal op-ed about planned placement of "researchers" into media outlet newsrooms for what's called a "Multi-Market Study of Critical Information Needs":

"The purpose of the CIN, according to the FCC, is to ferret out information from television and radio broadcasters and newspapers about "the process by which stories are selected" and how often stations cover "critical information needs," along with "perceived station bias" and "perceived responsiveness to under-served populations."

"It plans to ask station managers, news directors, journalists, television anchors and on-air reporters to tell the government about their "news philosophy" and how the station ensures that the community gets critical information."  

I ask you, just who are these under-served populations? 

"We're from the government....we're just here to help"

IBD- Pai warned that under the rationale of increasing minority representation in newsrooms, the FCC, which has the power to issue or not issue broadcasting licenses, would dispatch its "researchers" to newsrooms across America to seek their "voluntary" compliance about how news stories are decided, as well as "wade into office politics" looking for angry reporters whose story ideas were rejected as evidence of a shutout of minority views.

Pai questioned if such a study could really be voluntary, given FCC's conflict of interest (and, he might have added, the Obama record of going after political opponents).

It's an idea so fraught with potential for abuse it ought to have news agencies screaming bloody murder. The very idea of Obama hipsters showing up in newsrooms, asking questions and judging if newspapers (over which they have no jurisdiction), radio and TV are sufficiently diverse is nothing short of thought control.

Reporters Without Borders said the U.S. had "one of the most significant declines" in press freedom in the world last year, dropping 13 places to a wretched 46th in its newly released global ranking. If the FCC has its way, it can drop even further."

This is not the first, but the second time in recent memory Commissioner of the FCC Ajit Pai  has warned America of the Obama administrations overreaching regulatory intentions. First, Net Neutrality, and now Overseers of  Truth and Fairness in reporting. 

And again, who could this under-served population be? Perhaps some people in high places believe there is not enough positive news of rioters, of illegal immigrants or maybe our Islamic friends?