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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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1 posted on 07/08/2020 9:03:15 AM PDT by rintintin
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To: rintintin

Die MSM die!

L


2 posted on 07/08/2020 9:04:20 AM PDT by Lurker (Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is.)
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To: rintintin

Watch the GOP Senate vote to send tax money to left wing media. Count on it


3 posted on 07/08/2020 9:04:47 AM PDT by rintintin (qu)
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To: Lurker

Watch the GOP Senate vote to send tax money to left wing media. Count on it


4 posted on 07/08/2020 9:05:10 AM PDT by rintintin (qu)
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To: rintintin

No! And L no.


5 posted on 07/08/2020 9:05:48 AM PDT by Irenic (The pencil sharpener and Elmer's glue is put away-- we've lost the red wheelbarrow)
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To: rintintin

Journalism (i.e. left wing propaganda) is a non-essential service.

People can get news from other people on the internet, real-time, as it happens live.

We do not need a left wing filter to tell us what to think.


6 posted on 07/08/2020 9:07:04 AM PDT by Flavious_Maximus
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To: rintintin

As the Media loses all credibility, it demands government subsidization.


7 posted on 07/08/2020 9:07:57 AM PDT by marktwain (President Trump and his supporters are the Resistance. His opponents are the Reactionaries.)
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To: rintintin

Yes. Hang them.


8 posted on 07/08/2020 9:08:27 AM PDT by jjotto (Blessed are You LORD, who crushes enemies and subdues the wicked.)
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To: rintintin

The Ministry of Propaganda should be defunded.


9 posted on 07/08/2020 9:08:50 AM PDT by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizens Are Born Here of Citizen Parents|Know Islam, No Peace-No Islam, Know Peace)
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To: Flavious_Maximus

Watch the GOP Senate vote to send tax money to left wing media. Count on it


10 posted on 07/08/2020 9:08:51 AM PDT by rintintin (qu)
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To: rintintin

“government intervention in the crisis”

Crisis? It’s economics. Print media has been dying for over a decade.

And what kind of mis-guided mentality thinks it is even at all conceivable that the Federal Government should get involved?

The so-called “news” media is run by Democrats (and worse). Let the Democrat Party prop up their propaganda puppets.


11 posted on 07/08/2020 9:09:12 AM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire. Or both.)
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To: rintintin

Local news is dying of suicide. You cannot sell a product by telling your most productive customers that they are racists and deplorable. Let them die.


12 posted on 07/08/2020 9:09:31 AM PDT by Pollster1 ("Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed")
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To: rintintin

They already are, NPR and PBS.


13 posted on 07/08/2020 9:09:41 AM PDT by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizens Are Born Here of Citizen Parents|Know Islam, No Peace-No Islam, Know Peace)
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To: rintintin

The Federal government has no obligation to support local journalism. If there is a desire for it, the need will be filled. I dropped my local paper years ago. I don’t need a federalize version of it going forward.


14 posted on 07/08/2020 9:13:27 AM PDT by Vermont Lt
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To: rintintin

Death of most local newspapers is a serious loss. Even as a Luddite I also realize there is way to save print. The online substitutes are dying, too, though. Politicians can get away with things without bulldog journalists to catch them. No one hears anything they do now.

But even in areas which once had lots of local news reported there is now a dearth of it. We cannot get the news! We will have to have handbills and broadsides posted to trees and buildings soon.

Questions I’ve had such as “why were there at least six police cars with sirens on?” “Why did the city council decide to....” and “Was the aide to the mayor convicted and did he resign or was he fired?” are all unanswered.

Also, most local radio is dead so we turn them on and hear national feeds only.


15 posted on 07/08/2020 9:14:56 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
Churches would sue.

Religion isn't subsidized, why should the press?

16 posted on 07/08/2020 9:15:25 AM PDT by Spirochete (GOP: Gutless Old Party)
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To: rintintin

If we want state run media overseen by deep state hacks then yes. If we want a free press then no.


17 posted on 07/08/2020 9:15:33 AM PDT by pepsi_junkie (Often wrong, but never in doubt!)
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Save Journalism???.....they have been hardest hit by cultural realization of all the lying and manipulation they have been doing for 50 years with the deception accelerating exponentially the last few years.......let them die....they can stand in a drainage ditch while reporting flooding from AGW on their own time for family photo albums...


18 posted on 07/08/2020 9:15:48 AM PDT by TnTnTn
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To: Pollster1

Most of the “local” papers have big owners (Gannett)


19 posted on 07/08/2020 9:15:50 AM PDT by kaktuskid
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To: rintintin
hard-hit by the economic fallout from the pandemic

More BS. They are choking to death on their own BS.
More like suicide.

20 posted on 07/08/2020 9:16:55 AM PDT by DUMBGRUNT ("The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!"Dien Bien Phu last message.)
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