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." 2 Ours has been called the jet age, the atomic age, the space age. It is also, I submit, the television age. And just as history will decide whether the leaders of today's world employed the atom to destroy the world or rebuild it for mankind's benefit, so will history decide whether today's broadcasters employed their powerful voice to enrich the people or debase them. . . . 3 Like everybody, I wear more than one hat. I am the chairman of the FCC. I am also a television viewer and the husband and father of other television viewers. I have seen a great many television programs that seemed to me eminently worthwhile, and I am not talking about the much-bemoaned good old days of "Playhouse 90" and "Studio One." 4 I am talking about this past season. Some were wonderfully entertaining, such as "The Fabulous Fifties," the "Fred Astaire Show" and the "Bing Crosby Special"; some were dramatic and moving, such as Conrad's "Victory" and "Twilight Zone"; some were marvelously informative, such as "The Nation's Future," "CBS Reports," and "The Valiant Years." I could list many more—programs that I am sure everyone here felt enriched his own life and that of his family. When television is good, nothing—not the theater, not the magazines or newspapers—nothing is better. 5 But when television is bad, nothing is worse. I invite you to sit down in front of your television set when your station goes on the air and stay there without a book, magazine, newspaper, profit-and-loss sheet, or rating book to distract you—and keep your eyes glued to that set until the station signs off. I can assure you that you will observe a vast wasteland. 6 You will see a procession of game shows, violence, audience participation shows, formula comedies about totally unbelievable families, blood and thunder, mayhem, violence, sadism, murder, Western badmen, Western good men, private eyes, gangsters, more violence and cartoons. And, endlessly, commercials—many screaming, cajoling, and offending. And, most of all, boredom. True, you will see a few things you will enjoy. But they will be very, very few. And if you think I exaggerate, try it. 7 Is there one person in this room who claims that broadcasting can't do better

Answer 1

The FCC, established in 1934, regulates interstate and international communications including broadcast media. Newton Minow criticized television programming quality, which led to national debate on media content. The FCC's role includes licensing broadcasters, enforcing decency standards, and preventing monopolies.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) plays a pivotal role in regulating broadcast media in the United States. Created by the Communications Act of 1934 to regulate all interstate and international communications, the FCC is responsible for licensing broadcasters and ensuring they adhere to certain standards that serve the public interest. Newton Minow, appointed by President Kennedy, highlighted the concerns about the quality of television programming in his famous "vast wasteland" speech, igniting a national debate on the subject.

While the FCC regulates content to protect public decency, such as taking action against the infamous Janet Jackson "wardrobe malfunction" during the 2004 Super Bowl, it also establishes limits to prevent monopolies in broadcasting. The agency's decisions can significantly impact what is broadcast on television and radio, influencing both content creators and audiences.

The advent of television transformed media consumption, and by the 1950s, what has been called the "golden age" of television was in full swing. However, it was during this time that concerns about programming quality and the potential of television were vocally expressed by figures such as Minow.