Don’t give the press a bailout (Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™)

Boston Globe ^ | July 21, 2010 | Jeff Jacoby

[abb]

Are government subsidies the cure for what ails the news business? Add Lee Bollinger, the president of Columbia University, to the roster of eminentos who think the answer is yes.

In “Uninhibited, Robust, and Wide-Open: A Free Press for a New Century,’’ Bollinger argues that the condition of the mainstream press, which is slowly being crushed under the treads of the Internet, “may become so grave as to require injections of public funds.’’ He is convinced “that this will prove to be the only way to sustain a free press over time.’’

Bollinger isn’t the only one who would like to see taxpayers propping up the news industry. Last year, Senator Benjamin Cardin of Maryland proposed legislation that would allow newspapers to operate as non-profits and be supported with tax-deductible contributions.

Recently, the Federal Trade Commission released a “discussion draft paper’’ containing a raft of proposals “to support the reinvention of journalism.’’ Many of them were schemes for funneling money from the government to the media. Among the FTC’s suggestions: increased funding for pub lic television and radio, the creation of a National Fund for Local News, a tax credit to news organizations for every journalist they hire, and even a new “journalism’’ division of AmeriCorps (“to ensure that young people who love journalism will stay in the field.’’).

According to one estimate, such a package of subsidies could cost as much as $35 billion a year. Where would that money come from? The FTC ran all kinds of revenue ideas up the flagpole: Authorize the Small Business Administration to insure loans to nonprofit journalism organizations. Increase postal subsidies for newspapers and periodicals. Levy a new tax on commercial broadcasters — or on consumer electronics — or on TV and radio advertising — or on cell phone Internet service.

snip

[abb]

Of interest to our group.

[abb]

ping

[abb]

http://www.buzzmachine.com/
Google takes the FTC to school

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2010/07/meet-the-new-journolist-smaller-than-the-old-journolist/60159/
Meet the New Journolist, Smaller Than the Old Journolist

[ken5050]

That should play well..take away tghe home mortgage interest deduction, yet allow people to deduct their newspaper subscriptions off their income tax returns..

[paguch]

The press isn’t being crushed by the Internet, it is being crushed by it’s dishonesty. The press seems to be controlled by the NY Times and the AP and they have not served the industry well.

Now the government wants to come in and subsidize , read control, the failing press.

[Texas resident]

When the govt takes over the press, how will we know the difference?

[Secret Agent Man]

Let’s just look at the headlines that would come from this:

1. “Free” Press bailout costs 35 Billion Taxpayer dollars

2. Federal government gives 35 Billion to Press to remain free and objective in coverage

3. Federal Bailout Won’t Affect News Coverage of Government; “We can still go after Republicans” says Media

4. Internet Killing Mainstream Media, Not liberal bias people won’t purchase anymore

5. Mainstream Media no longer critical against private company bailouts with billions of taxpayer dollars

6. Mainstream Media crying about the internet: Like the buggy whip industry crying about the automobile, only government is going to bail them out

[Secret Agent Man]

Hey, don’t forget, this will be a big step up for the mainstream liberal media.

As over 90% of them vote democrat, they were just giving it away for free. Now they’ll get paid for it. They just went from “sluts” to “whores”.

[telebob]

That would be great. The enemies of the people on the JournoList would then be wholly subsidized by the people.

What could be better? We would be funding our own executioners.

Efficient...

[Buckeye McFrog]

we got any orgasmic postings from the JournoList about this?

[abb]

http://stlouis.sbnation.com/2010/7/21/1579818/globe-democrat-sports-staff-walks
Globe-Democrat Sports Staff Walks Out

http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/digital/e3iabea5ee8f01f624aee0755545d363d16
Online Ad Spend Resumes Rapid Growth

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/455023-FCC_Report_Broadband_Not_Being_Deployed_to_All.php
FCC Report: Broadband Not Being Deployed to All
Immediate prospects for deployment deemed ‘bleak’

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-onthemedia-20100721,0,7846072.column
On the Media: How many more Bells are out there?

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/Headlines/bankruptcy-sale-of-brown-publishing-newspapers-under-fire-on-two-sides-62055-.aspx
Bankruptcy Sale of Brown Publishing Newspapers Under Fire on Two Sides

http://www.businessinsider.com/google-to-government-keep-your-hands-off-journalism-2010-7
Google To Government: Keep Your Hands Off Journalism

[Beckwith]

Lee Bollinger is obviously another incompetent Obot who can't make a living as a "real" journalist..

[Tribune7]

Newspapers just about everywhere get sweet gub subsidies in the form of mandated — and now very, very unnecessary — legal advertising.

[abb]

Newspapers just about everywhere get sweet gub subsidies in the form of mandated — and now very, very unnecessary — legal advertising.

Since I started my newsblog, I have personally run into the issue here in North Louisiana with weekly papers that survive off that stuff. All kinds of local malfeasance going on and the local papers won't touch it for fear of losing the legal ads.

I'm sure it happens in every small town across the country.

[Tribune7]

All kinds of local malfeasance going on and the local papers won't touch it for fear of losing the legal ads.

Yep.

[haroldeveryman]

Does Lee Bollinger, the president of Columbia University, really want an “uninhibited, robust, and wide-Open Free Press for a New Century” ??? Then let our flaccid , lame, collaborationist press die a natural death in the free market and tell Obama and company to keep their mangy hands off the internet.

[abb]

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=132345
Lee Newspapers See Decline in 2Q

[upchuck]

Lee Bollinger: He is convinced “that this (a government bailout) will prove to be the only way to sustain a free press over time.”

Hey Lee, you’re the pres of Columbia and all and a pretty smart guy I guess.

Given all that, how could you make the incredibly stupid statement above. Uh, once the lamestream, driveby press takes a bailout it will no longer be free. Hello?

[sergeantdave]

What poor Lee Bollinger doesn’t understand is that leftist Nazi propaganists bleed and die like anyone else.

Okay, give Lee a bunker, a german shepherd dog and a girlfriend named “Eva” and let’s see how he makes out...

We might have to train the coward how to use a Walther PPK.