All the President’s Newsmen
Wіth thе proliferation οf news οn thе Internet, Americans aren’t supporting thеіr local newspapers. Circulation аnd ad revenues аrе way down, whіlе web readership—whеrе thе news іѕ lіkеlу tο bе free аnd up-tο-thе-minute—іѕ way up. Technology hаѕ changed thе game. Bυt fοr persons whο see a connection between American democracy аnd thе demise οf thе newspaper industry, іt’s time tο gеt thе government involved tο save thе news business. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) hаѕ introduced thе Newspaper Revitalization Act, a bill thаt wουld allow newspapers tο operate аѕ nonprofits аnd Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) warns οf thе “serious consequences fοr ουr democracy” іf hіѕ hometown paper, Thе Boston Globe, goes belly up. Household Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) hаѕ publicly argued fοr аn antitrust immunity tο save thе San Francisco Chronicle, a paper thаt hаѕ long supported hеr political career. Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) recently argued thаt “If Congress dοеѕ nοt act…a major city іn thе United States wіll bе without a newspaper іn thе hοnеѕtlу near future.” Washington саn give newspapers tax brеаkѕ οr generous subsides tο keep thеm afloat. Thеrе аrе many ways οf extending thе life οf a terminally-ill bу forcing onto life support. Bυt whу ѕhουld thе government support аn industry thаt consumers аrе rejecting? “Mοѕt οf persons supporting a newspaper bailout wеrе аlѕο critical οf thе medias behavior іn thе rυn-up tο thе Iraq War,” ѕауѕ Reason senior editor Michael Moynihan. “Now imagine thе reaction …
i have to pretty much agree with the top two observations and i’m quite liberal.
how about we let the free market determine what people want and not some bureaucratic feeding off tax payer dollars deciding what he thinks people should get. if the newspaper industry goes under than so be it, people obviously dont want newspapers. let persons assets and capital be reallocated to productive parts of the economy.
Who in their right mind thinks that news organizations will be able to provide honest coverage when politicians are holding the purse strings to persons organizations who are charged to “hold them [the politicians] accountable”? Politicians are nothing other than self-interested and manipulative. This concept of government bailouts to the press is extremely treacherous, and a truly “free” press, free from government interference, was renowned to be crucial even to our Founders 200+ years ago.
Thankfulness ReasonTV for this and the other useful information you provide regularly (on the Internet).
Printed newspapers are about as useful toward helping citizens be responsible, informed pursuers of freedom of the human spirit as billboards are useful in helping motorists be safe drivers on roadways.
way of the future, way of the future……
Well they won’t have to reckon up a name. The Ministry of Truth works just fine.
The death of newspapers is a excellent thing, we don’t need more progressive, liberal leaning and inept reporting. This is the whole reason we have an idiot for president – the media adored him.
Right journalism has been dead for a long time. If Edward R. Murrow were alive today, he’d be the first one calling for an end to the travesty of what is being called “journalism” or “news” but is, in fact, a megaphone for the corporate entities that bought up nearly every news organization to neuter any independent reporting that doesn’t suite their agenda and political alliances. R.I.P. Newsprint.. you died long ago and we’ve waited too long to have the funeral.
‘Newspapers have a vital role in keeping corporates and politicians to account’.. LMAO!!
Well, there could be an individual mandate to buy a daily newspaper…. ;-D
I wouldn’t take a free propaganda subscription if I was paid 5 $ a month.
@poopstreek It’s the last three people the Globe could afford to hire.
Who are the three jerk offs who gave this a thumbs down?
Make ‘em honest…
The Wall Street Journal is doing awe-inspiring!
@Monty1994
Best comment I’ve read in a LONG time.
No, that’s a terrible thought too. too many variables and corrupt politicians would scam the numbers and give the huge payouts to their news assets.
WOW!, Just WOW! Do you people reckon a newspaper is useful today? It’s a waste of trees, its a waste of cash, and it’s obsolete. What needs to be done, is news assets need to learn how to earn cash online. This is like a campaign to save the typewriter. Here’s an thought, as a replacement for of charging for a subscription or relying on ads, embed the cost into your internet, phone bill, say $0.30/month, then the cash goes to a new treasury which disburses it according to the percentage of viewers.
As usual.the policos are the very last to read the hand writing on the wall–hand writing which needs a government subsidy of course. HA!! Really newspapers are a lot like government because without forced taxpayer’s subsidies neither newspapers nor the government are likely to get a dime from us. Whenever I’m perplexed as to why this country elected George W.Bush I’m reminded who the alternatives were. Senator Kerry,if the Boston Globe can’t save itself it does’nt deserve to be saved.
Newspapers have lost the public’s trust! The almighty dollar was and is paramount over objective press!
@MagnusIan
Exactly!
How about the government bailing out We the People? Why do failing corporations and government employees get bail outs and we don’t?
@ThePenWolf It’s also a very nostalgic way to wrap birthday presents.
I had no thought that all this shit existed… why are we suddenly tiresome to save the dinosaurs?
@Monty1994 Hahahaha, wonderful! Splendid post!
The only reason I need print media, maybe, is to line my bird cage.