Final answer:
The Fairness Doctrine was a 1949 FCC policy requiring balanced coverage of controversial issues, which was repealed in 1987. This led to the rise of partisan cable news networks like CNN, MSNBC, and FOX News, which are not required to present opposing views.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Fairness Doctrine
The Fairness Doctrine was a policy established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1949, which required holders of broadcast licenses to present controversial issues of public importance in a manner that was, in the FCC's view, honest, equitable, and balanced. Broadcasters were obligated to provide time for opposing viewpoints when covering these controversial issues, ensuring a degree of balance and fairness in their reporting.
End of the Fairness Doctrine and its Impact on Cable News
The FCC stopped enforcing the Fairness Doctrine in 1985 and officially repealed it in 1987. Critics argued that the doctrine limited the debate of controversial topics and put the government in the position of acting as an editor, which was not its rightful role. After the end of the Fairness Doctrine, cable news channels such as CNN, MSNBC, and FOX News emerged, each presenting news with their particular framing and viewpoint, without the obligation to present opposing perspectives. This lack of regulation arguably led to more partisan and less balanced news coverage as cable networks were not bound by the Fairness Doctrine requirements.