Newton Minow, Key Figure in the Era of Televised Presidential Debates, Dies at 97

By Naveen May 07, 2023

Newton Minow was a prominent American attorney and former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

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He is best known for his famous speech about the state of television programming in America, which he delivered in 1961.

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Minow believed that television had the potential to be a powerful educational tool, but that it was not living up to that potential.

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His advocacy for public interest programming helped to pave the way for the creation of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which was established in 1967.

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After leaving the FCC, Minow continued to be active in public life and served on the board of several non-profit organizations.

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He was a prominent advocate for public interest programming in the media and continued to be an influential figure in the industry.

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Minow's legacy as an advocate for public interest programming and a champion of the public's right to quality media and communications is a lasting one.

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