"Whoever controls the media..."

There's been a steady, scary move towards self-censorship in the media, according to the New York Times writing about WBAI's recent decision not to read Allen Ginsberg's "Howl" on air. The conservative-dominated FCC has been narrowing the media's ability -- through heavy fines -- to broadcast edgy stuff.

Public broadcasting stations already are editing Ken Burns’s new documentary on World War II, eliminating pungent four-letter talk from the eyewitness accounts of G.I. Joe.

If Ginsberg were still with us, he would undoubtedly pen a mocking line or two about his poem being banned from the airwaves 50 years after it was ruled not to be obscene. Congress, of course, could redress the F.C.C.’s bullying powers if it wanted to. But lately, the Capitol’s most energetic broadcast agenda has been conservative members’ organizing against any attempt to restore the fairness doctrine to political broadcast, which could crimp the 24/7 rants of right-wing talk radio. The poet would understand, having once noted: “Whoever controls the media, the images, controls the culture.”

Should anyone control the media?  Should we feel any more comfortable with censorship from anxious parents or well-meaning liberals?