Question

Newton Minow (1926— ) was appointed by President John Kennedy as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, the agency responsible for regulating the use of the public airwaves. On May 9, 1961, he spoke to 2,000 members of the National Association of Broadcasters and told them that the daily fare on television was "a vast wasteland." Minow's indictment of commercial television launched a national debate about the quality of programming. After Minow's speech, the television critic for The New York Times wrote: "Tonight some broadcasters were trying to find dark explanations for Mr. Minow's attitude. In this matter the viewer possibly can be a little helpful; Mr. Minow has been watching television."

Answer 1

Tonight, Newton Minow's speech to the National Association of Broadcasters sparked a national discussion about the quality of television programming. His criticism of "the vast wasteland" of commercial television was met with criticism from some broadcasters who were trying to find darker explanations for his views. The New York Times' television critic also suggested that viewers could be helpful in this matter, as Minow had been watching television.