NewtonN.Minow:"TelevisionandthePublicInterest"Thankyouforthisopportunitytomeetwithyoutoday.ThisismyfirstpublicaddresssinceItookovermynewjob.WhentheNewFrontiersmenrodeintotown,Ilockedmyselfinmyofficetodomyhomeworkandgetmyfeetwet.ButapparentlyIhaven'tmanagedtostayoutofhotwater.IseemtohavedetectedacertainnervousapprehensionaboutwhatImightsayordowhenIemergedfromthatlockedofficeforthis,mymaidenstationbreak.First,letmebeginbydispellingarumor.IwasnotpickedforthisjobbecauseIregardmyselfasthefastestdrawontheNewFrontier.Second,letmestartarumor.Likeyou,IhavecarefullyreadPresidentKennedy'smessagesabouttheregulatoryagencies,conflictofinterest,andthedangersofexpartecontacts.And,ofcourse,weattheFederalCommunicationsCommissionwilldoourpart.Indeed,ImayevensuggestthatwechangethenameoftheFCCtoTheSevenUntouchables!Itmayalsocomeasasurprisetosomeofyou,butIwantyoutoknowthatyouhavemyadmirationandrespect.Yoursisamosthonorableprofession.Anyonewhoisinthebroadcastingbusinesshasatoughrowtohoe.Youearnyourbreadbyusingpublicproperty.Whenyouworkinbroadcastingyouvolunteerforpublicservice,publicpressure,andpublicregulation.Youmustcompetewithotherattractionsandotherinvestments,andtheonlywayyoucandoitistoprovetouseverythreeyearsthatyoushouldhavebeeninbusinessinthefirstplace.Icanthinkofeasierwaystomakealiving.用心爱心专心ButIcannotthinkofmoresatisfyingways.Iadmireyourcourage--butthatdoesn'tmeanIwouldmakelifeanyeasierforyou.Yourlicenseletsyouusethepublic'sairwavesastrusteesfor180millionAmericans.Thepublicisyourbeneficiary.Ifyouwanttostayonastrustees,youmustdeliveradecentreturntothepublic--notonlytoyourstockholders.So,asarepresentativeofthepublic,yourhealthandyourproductareamongmychiefconcerns.Astoyourhealth:let'stalkonlyoftelevisiontoday.1960grossbroadcastrevenuesofthetelevisionindustrywereover$1,268,000,000;profitbeforetaxeswas$243,900,000,anaveragereturnonrevenueof19.2percent.Comparedwith1959,grossbroadcastrevenueswere$1,163,900,000,andprofitbeforetaxeswas$222,300,000,anaveragereturnonrevenueof19.1percent.So,thepercentageincreaseoftotalrevenuesfrom1959to1960was9percent,andthepercentageincreaseofprofitwas9.7percent.This,despitearecession.Foryourinvestors,thepricehasindeedbeenright.Ihaveconfidenceinyourhealth.Butnotinyourproduct.ItiswiththisandmuchmoreinmindthatIcomebeforeyoutoday.Oneeditorialistinthetradepresswrotethat"theFCCoftheNewFrontierisgoing用心爱心专心tobeoneofthetoughestFCC'sinthehistoryofbroadcastregulation."Ifhemeantthatweintendtoenforcethelawinthepublicinterest,letmemakeitperfectlyclearthatheisright--wedo.Ifhemeantthatweintendtomuzzleorcensorbroadcasting,heisdeadwrong.Itwouldnotsurprisemeifsomeofyouhadexpectedmetocomeheretodayandsayineffect,"Cleanupyourownhouseorthegovernmentwilldoitforyou."Well,inalimitedsense,youwouldberight--I'vejustsaidit.ButIwanttosaytoyouearnestlythatitisnotinthatspiritthatIcomebeforeyoutoday,norisitinthatspiritthatIintendtoservetheFCC.IaminWashingtontohelpbroadcasting,nottoharmit;tostrengthenit,notweakenit;torewardit,notpunishit;toencourageit,notthreatenit;tostimulateit,notcensorit.Aboveall,Iamheretoupholdandprotectthepublicinterest.Whatdowemeanby"thepublicinterest?"Somesaythepublicinterestismerelywhatintereststhepublic.Idisagree.Sodoesyourdistinguishedpresident,GovernorCollins.Inarecentspeechhesaid,Broadcastingtoservethepublicinterest,musthaveasoulandaconscience,aburning...
