The First Amendment should apply to all media equally. The content of all media should be equally free from government intrusion. No prior restraint should be place on any medium, no matter what its format. No restrictions should be imposed on who may publish or transmit information. The maximum possible diversity of media ownership and control should be sought. There must be universal access to the emerging transmission networks; a public sphere should be reserved for all citizens for civic information, discussion, debate, and decision making. There must be a free, independent, and properly financed system of public telecommunications: That system, I believe, should be supported at least in part by fees from commercial telecommunications service providers and spectrum auctions.
Predictor: Grossman, Lawrence K.
Prediction, in context:In his 1995 book “The Electronic Republic: Reshaping Democracy in the Information Age,” Lawrence Grossman, former president of NBC News and PBS, writes: ”The following principles should shape the nation’s approach to free speech and a free press during the transformation to the electronic republic, no matter how the telecommunications environment may evolve: - The First Amendment should apply to all media equally. The content of all media should be equally free from government intrusion. - No prior restraint should be place on any medium, no matter what its format. - No restrictions should be imposed on who may publish or transmit information. - The maximum possible diversity of media ownership and control should be sought. - There must be universal access to the emerging transmission networks; a public sphere should be reserved for all citizens for civic information, discussion, debate, and decision making. - There must be a free, independent, and properly financed system of public telecommunications: That system, I believe, should be supported at least in part by fees from commercial telecommunications service providers and spectrum auctions.
Biography:Lawrence Grossman wrote the book “The Electronic Republic: Reshaping Democracy in an Information Age” (Penguin, 1995). The former executive at NBC and PBS urged people to realize that digital communications had altered how things can and should be done. (Author/Editor/Journalist.)
Date of prediction: January 1, 1995
Topic of prediction: Controversial Issues
Subtopic: Censorship/Free Speech
Name of publication: The Electronic Republic (book)
Title, headline, chapter name: Chapter 9: Media Reform – Back to the Future
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Page 191
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Guarino, Jennifer Anne