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As local news crumbles, should the federal government intervene?
Columbia Journalism Review ^ | July 8 2020 | Lauren Harris

Posted on 07/08/2020 9:03:15 AM PDT by rintintin

Journalism is just one of the industries hard-hit by the economic fallout from the pandemic. While we reimagine journalism’s structures and funding models, what role might the government play in intervening to support the role of a functioning press—not just someday, but now?

In a new report published by the Hussman School of Journalism and Media at the University of North Carolina, Penny Abernathy—a collaborator on our Cutback Tracker project—underlines the stakes. Since 2005, more than a quarter of the country’s newspapers have disappeared. In the same fifteen-year span, the number of local journalists working in newsrooms has dropped by half. She describes the covid-related recession as a watershed moment. “The choices we make in 2020–as citizens, policymakers and industry leaders–will determine the future of the local news landscape,” Abernathy writes.

In the report, Dana Miller Ervin dives into some of the proposed policies for government intervention in the crisis, noting an attitude shift on Capitol Hill. “Before the pandemic, journalism was seen as a pet interest on the Hill,” Ervin quotes Viktorya Vilk, of advocacy group PEN America, saying. “That perception has shifted now. We’re finally at a moment when conversations [about assistance] are absolutely happening.” Still, the November election presents a time crunch; if interventions don’t happen soon, Ervin warns, they’ll likely have to wait until January or beyond.

Stimulus payments and loans provide one option for intervention, though distribution can be inconsistent and flawed. In late March, Craig Aaron, president and co-CEO of Press Action, wrote for CJR in favor of a Congressional stimulus for journalism. “Now is the time to act,” Aaron wrote. “We need significant public investments in all corners of the economy, and journalism is no exception.” Soon after, the CARES Act was signed into law, with some stimulus money made available to a

(Excerpt) Read more at cjr.org ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: 2020election; craigaaron; cutbacktracker; danamillerervin; defundnpr; defundpbs; dnctalkingpoint; dnctalkingpoints; economy; election2020; hussmanschool; laurenharris; media; mediawingofthednc; msm; northcarolina; npr; partisanmediashills; pbs; penamerica; pennyabernathy; pressaction; presstitutes; smearmachine; uofnorthcarolina; victoryavilk; viktoryavilk; vilk
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To: Vermont Lt

Yes the local papers died here, as most cities. But what if a local politician runs a new lucrative graft ring now? Who will expose it? How can anyone tell thousands of others about it? Chat at the coffee place or the bus stop?

No one really runs a hyperlocal online news service in most places. We are just in the dark (”where democracy dies” as a paper said.

First leftist propaganda, and now no news at all.


21 posted on 07/08/2020 9:19:43 AM PDT by frank ballenger (End vote fraud,harvesting,non-citizen voting & leftist media news censorship or we are finished.)
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To: rintintin

Just who reads these yellow rags? Go out of business...do the United States, civilization and honesty a favor.


22 posted on 07/08/2020 9:20:36 AM PDT by hal ogen (First Amendment or Reeducation Camp???)
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To: rintintin

Big business took over small town news. Normal people don’t care for their agenda and aren’t buying. Go figure. Small town news can come back if they focus on what matters to small town folks.


23 posted on 07/08/2020 9:20:36 AM PDT by petitfour (APPEAL TO HEAVEN)
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To: rintintin

There is no role for government to subsidize failed business models, such as acting as an arm of the DNC and failing to publish factual news that may be of interest to the marketplace.


24 posted on 07/08/2020 9:21:11 AM PDT by G Larry (There is no merit in compromising with the Devil.)
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To: rintintin

Headed down the tubes long before the pandemic, the article says so. About the time they turned from 90% liberal to 99.9% liberal.


25 posted on 07/08/2020 9:21:28 AM PDT by John W (Trump/Pence 2020)
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To: rintintin

“Since 2005, more than a quarter of the country’s newspapers have disappeared.”

I blame Al Gore for inventing the Internet.


26 posted on 07/08/2020 9:21:40 AM PDT by McGruff (A Lie Can Travel Halfway Around the World While the Truth Is Putting On Its Shoes)
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To: rintintin

I shouldn’t be surprised such garbage is coming from corrupt legacy-corporate media and their cronies


27 posted on 07/08/2020 9:25:01 AM PDT by PGR88
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To: frank ballenger
But what if a local politician runs a new lucrative graft ring now?

Almost all local pols are Democrats. Democrats are never held accountable anyway. Nothing to see here. Move along.

28 posted on 07/08/2020 9:25:21 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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To: rintintin

Nope.

Let it learn to give people the truth, like they want to hear, not propaganda that the MSM wants us to hear.


29 posted on 07/08/2020 9:25:22 AM PDT by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith....)
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To: rintintin

Uf EFF that.


30 posted on 07/08/2020 9:25:31 AM PDT by NohSpinZone (First thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers)
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To: frank ballenger

> No one really runs a hyperlocal online news service in most places.

What’s stopping them? I’ll answer, money.

Unless supported by subscriptions, who is going to advertise on such a site? Local businesses that would be intimidated by the local thugs. Nice store front you’ve got there, I’d hate to see something happen to it.

Of course though, the overhead for hosting a wordpress based site is probably $2000/year. Don’t have to worry about distributing any dead trees.


31 posted on 07/08/2020 9:25:46 AM PDT by glorgau
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To: glorgau

There is also the example of blogs like “Second City Cop”. great stuff.


32 posted on 07/08/2020 9:26:57 AM PDT by glorgau
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To: frank ballenger

“We cannot get the news”. I remember when the departed Newark Evening News even had the bowling scores from across N.J.


33 posted on 07/08/2020 9:27:38 AM PDT by certrtwngnut (4- Do something,,,,even if it's wrong.)
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To: rintintin

“As local news crumbles, should the federal government intervene?”

What could possibly go wrong?


34 posted on 07/08/2020 9:28:09 AM PDT by ModelBreaker
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To: rintintin
Subsidizing Leftist trash? No thank you. Make sure to contact your GOP rep to make sure they do not go along with this scheme. Let the media die, they deserve it.
35 posted on 07/08/2020 9:29:24 AM PDT by Major Matt Mason (America has a DemocRat and RINO problem.)
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To: rintintin

You get more real news in 5 minutes on a site like FR than you do in “Mainstream” news in 1 day.

Not to mention that conservative news sites have to pay the bills and often deal with censorship to boot.

They can sink or swim on their own.


36 posted on 07/08/2020 9:31:18 AM PDT by desertfreedom765
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To: rintintin

it pains me greatly our local news stations weren’t looted and burned out.... they’re super ‘woke’ propaganda mills.


37 posted on 07/08/2020 9:31:56 AM PDT by Levy78
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To: rintintin

You know that’s exactly what those idiots in the GOPee will do. Kinda makes me sick to know our President has to put up with these morons.


38 posted on 07/08/2020 9:37:54 AM PDT by abbastanza
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To: rintintin
As local news crumbles, should the federal government intervene?

Separation of press and state.

39 posted on 07/08/2020 9:39:06 AM PDT by Repeat Offender (While the wicked stand confounded, call me with Thy saints surrounded.)
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To: rintintin

LMAO! These a-holes want a bailout. They are pure scum and need to FOAD.


40 posted on 07/08/2020 9:43:54 AM PDT by shanover (...To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.-S.Adams)
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