fairness doctrine

noun

: a tenet of licensed broadcasting that ensures a reasonable opportunity for the airing of conflicting viewpoints on controversial issues

Examples of fairness doctrine in a Sentence

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From 1949 to 1987, the Federal Communications Commission held radio and television stations to a standard requiring them to air opposing sides of public issues of importance, a policy known as the fairness doctrine. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 May 2026 In 1987, the FCC also abolished the fairness doctrine, which required broadcasters to provide differing viewpoints when covering issues of public importance. — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 19 Sep. 2025 Trump’s comment’s appeared to allude to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) fairness doctrine, abolished in 1987 in the Reagan era, which required networks with broadcast licenses to reflect different viewpoints on major issues, The Hill’s Brett Samuels reports. — Jared Gans, The Hill, 19 Sep. 2025 Trump, though, appeared to be conflating the FCC‘s equal time rule with the fairness doctrine. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fairness doctrine

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of fairness doctrine was in 1952

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fairness doctrine

fairntickle

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Style

“Fairness doctrine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fairness%20doctrine. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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Legal Definition

fairness doctrine

noun

: a doctrine requiring broadcasters to provide an opportunity for response to personal attacks aired by the broadcaster and especially for the airing of conflicting viewpoints on controversial issues

fairness doctrine

noun

Examples of fairness doctrine in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Legal Definition

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