Radio age research, manufacturing, communications, broadcasting, television (1941)

We are all aware of the tremendous part television is already playing in the political life of our country and the tremendous inlluence it will exert as it grows in years to come. The power of television is so great that it has frightened some people. There are, for example, those who have suggested that its intluenct on politics is dangerous . . . that it can elect or defeat . . . that it can be used by a demagogue to fool the public. But the American public is not easily fooled once it has the facts. The dangers in our system lie in the opposite direction — in shutting off the people from the facts and in limiting their knowledge of the issues. Television meets this danger. In bringing the candi- dates face to f.ice with the people ... in letting these candidates expound their views directly to the people ... in showing how they behave in action and debate, television gives the citizens the truth and equips them to make their own judgments. There has recently arisen a small minority who would seek to throttle television through Government censorship of its programs. Any such idea is repugnant to those who cherish liberty. Good taste cannot be legislated. No government authority can determine that a murder in Hamlet is good while a murder in modern drama is b.id. The responsibility is on the individual broadcaster, who, in turn, must be sensitive to the taste and discrimination of the audience he serves. Censorship I 'ioLiWs Priticil^les of Fretdom Moreover, program censorship by the government would violate the great principles of freedom of speech and of the press. This principle is covered by Consti- tutional guarantees. It applies to broadcasting just as it applies to newspapers and magazines, and just as it has recently been applied by the Supreme Court to motion pictures. The values of that principle are paramount. Its impairment in any area weakens one of the basic foundations of our free society. The freedom of television is also threatened by proposals for barring it from such places as the news conference, the Congressional hearing, and the floor of the House and the Senate. I rcc<ignizc that there are proceedings, involving the national securir\- or personal privacy, w-here publicity of any sort should be avoided. These proceedings should be held in dosed sessions to protect the national interest and private rights. But where the public is physically admitted, we must assume that public attendance is proper. The freedom to see what goes on in America should not be restricted to those who can be accommodated in such places as the hearing room, the House gallery or Alaeslro Ariiiro Toscanini "Television is bringing to our children information and culture, and the great entertainment our own country can offer." the Senate chamber. It should not be limited to those who happen to be in the city where the event is happening — be it Washington or Raleigh; or who have the time and money to travel to it; or who are lucky or influential enough to gain admission. Tele- vision should be a free ticket of admission to all Americans, wherever a single spectator is permitted. I know that many of my respected and learned brethren among the legal profession look with concern at the idea of having the television camera brought into the Congressional hearing and into other public pro- ceedings. I recognize the integrity and good intention of this attitude, but I question its long-range soundness. The legislative chamber cannot hold all mankind — but the television camera opens the door to all of the people who are interested. Their rights to attend and to view are equal to those of the s{>ectators who are physically present. Similarly, the rights of television to have direct access to the news are equal to those of other news gathering media. In our system, where the state serves the people and the people determine their own destiny, an especial value is put on having the people know the truth, and all of the truth. Television can give them the truth, because television is truth. RADIO AGE U