A National Endowment for Journalism (Giga-barf alert)

Al Guardian ^ | 2-14-09 | Bruce Ackerman

[atomic conspiracy]

The traditional newspaper is dying. The Evening Standard has been sold off for a pound to a former KGB agent, the Los Angeles Times is bankrupt and even the New York Times is in trouble. Mexican plutocrat Carlos Slim may become its largest shareholder in return for financing the paper's billion-dollar debt. Except for the financial press, newspapers have failed to convince readers to pay for online access – and there is no reason to think that readers will suddenly succumb to the charms of PayPal.

The newspaper bust has been good for one business. Policy wonks have been charging into the breach with a host of different solutions to the escalating crisis. Aside from the usual appeals for tax breaks and bail-outs, the more innovative proposals come in two types. On the private side, there have been calls for charities to endow newspapers or to subsidise political reporting. On the public side, the success of the BBC and American Public Broadcasting provides a paradigm that might be extended to the print media.

There is a third way out. We urge democracies throughout the world to consider the creation of national endowments for journalism that are carefully designed to confront the impending collapse of investigative reporting.

[atomic conspiracy]

America-hating activist presstitutes should consider the fate of their predecessors, Goebbels and Streicher, and count themselves lucky if bankruptcy is all they get.

[gibsosa]

NO sympathy here. F the media... nice to see them get what they deserve for once.

[Gorzaloon]

There is a third way out. We urge democracies throughout the world to consider the creation of national endowments for journalism that are carefully designed to confront the impending collapse of investigative reporting.

Stuff It.

We have been doing that for the last four election cycles, and we may never be able to undo the damage.

I have a better idea.

Let's start with all the "Journalism" professors, and (Deleted).

[TCats]

Next week or next month, when all of our Representatives and Senators actually read the Stimulus Bill they just passed I would not be surprised if they find several hundred Million or more for the Media somewhere in these pages.

[omega4179]

the impending collapse of investigative reporting.

LAUGHABLE!!!!

[A.Hun]

You can count on Obama and the Dems propping up the newspapers.

They won’t let such valuable propaganda tools fold.

[girlangler]

“the impending collapse of investigative reporting.

LAUGHABLE!!!!”

Yea. This collapsed years ago.

[atomic conspiracy]

You might want to see this.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

” The Evening Standard has been sold off for a pound ....”

They should have listed it on e-bay. I would have paid up to 3 pounds.

[DieHard the Hunter]

> The Evening Standard has been sold off for a pound

A pound of what, I wonder? Beagle, or Bloodhound?

> We urge democracies throughout the world to consider the creation of national endowments for journalism that are carefully designed to confront the impending collapse of investigative reporting.

Good ol’ Guardian: giving whole new meaning to “self-service”.

[Vaduz]

(We) urge democracies throughout the world to consider the creation of national endowments for journalism, every day it’s another plea for one world something or other.

[Flycatcher]

We generally oppose government efforts to second-guess the market. But this case really is special.

Yes, I suppose the Ministry of Propaganda is special. Sheesh.

Thanks for the ping. And, yes, I'll definitely keep you posted about the birding job. Should be happening in March or April.

[45semi]

They might prop them up,
but what is their value (anymore) as a propaganda tool?
The shallow voters who took O-reo on style instead of substance arent really the type that READ!
They are getting their fill of flash from television, where they sit and absorb what they are shown,
They are probably not the type to, say, read their information, then discuss and/or debate the facts,
on a venue such as this...As much as I despise the moonbats at say, Democratic Underground, at least they are more than just marginally involved.
I havent bought a newspaper in years. I dont know many people who have a subscription to one anymore. Our local paper has people sitting in Lowes at a booth asking people to subscribe. These people look very bored & frustrated lol

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

I fully expect that the Democrats will use US Treasury funds to subsidize the New York Times and/or the Associated Press, if not indeed its entire membership. It is after all only an extension of the PBS/NPR model.

Incidentally, there is a "P" in both the above acronyms, and in both cases it stands for government. Oh, they call it "public," but make no doubt than in neither case - nor any other in which a "liberal" uses the term - is the meaning anything else but government. In their mouths it is strictly a euphemism.