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 ...
Die MSM die!
L
Watch the GOP Senate vote to send tax money to left wing media. Count on it
Watch the GOP Senate vote to send tax money to left wing media. Count on it
No! And L no.
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.
As the Media loses all credibility, it demands government subsidization.
Yes. Hang them.
The Ministry of Propaganda should be defunded.
Watch the GOP Senate vote to send tax money to left wing media. Count on it
“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.
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.
They already are, NPR and PBS.
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.
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.
Religion isn't subsidized, why should the press?
If we want state run media overseen by deep state hacks then yes. If we want a free press then no.
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...
Most of the “local” papers have big owners (Gannett)
More BS. They are choking to death on their own BS.
More like suicide.
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