Struggling media will need government help: US congressman

[The Northerner]

Source: France24

AFP - The newspaper industry is suffering "market failure" and the government will need to help preserve serious journalism essential to democracy, an influential US congressman said Wednesday.

"The newspapers my generation has taken for granted are facing a structural threat to the business model that has sustained them," said Representative Henry Waxman, a Democrat from California.

"The loss of revenue has spurred a vicious cycle with thousands of journalists losing their jobs," he told a meeting on journalism in the Internet age hosted by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Waxman, who chairs the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which has jurisdiction over the FTC, said the "depression in the media sector is not cyclical, it is structural."

Read more: http://www.france24.com/en/node/4939034

---

I respect Waxman highly although I don't know about this.

[niyad]

1. welcome to DU-- I respect henry as well-- but definitely not sure about this.

think that michael moore put it very well in his talk on capitalism and media--in europe, newspapers are content-driven--you actually have something to read. here, newspapers are ad-driven, actual news, etc., is secondary.

one of the things that does seriously concern me about what happens if we truly have no more newspapers, is how easy it is to manipulate images, words, etc., on the internet, as one example. a newspaper from, say, 1854-- says what it said then--nothing can change it. not so with internet and other modern forms of communication.

[joeybee12]

2. No freaking way, Henry...

...talk about a stupid, stupid idea.

[elehhhhna]

3. April Fools! There's no THERE THERE, Henry!

US media does nothing but reprint press releases and barf up illogical editorial propaganda. Let 'em bleed

[Robb]

4. Much as I agree something needs to be done

...the notion of the press being indirectly funded by the government rather spoils the whole idea.

Newspapers have to figure out the revenue stream problem, no question, or they will be gone soon.

[lib2DaBone]

5. For 8 years the "Journalists" kissed Republican ass....

.. let the Republicans bail them out... We all know that won't happen....

[Vinnie From Indy]

6. Not only NO, but HELL NO!

I doubt there is any industry in America that is more deserving of reaping what they have sown than the newspaper industry.

How about when the Washington Post, the New York Times and other newspapers admit that they participated in the wholesale LYING to the American public about the Iraq War then we talk about some govt. help.

Also, why are these jobs more important than the millions being shipped overseas each year? Why are these people special?

[Iowa]

29. Well said. I agree.

[santamargarita]

7. Media reform is what we need - welcome to DU

~

[gmoney]

21. Long term, losing independent newspapers will be terrible for US freedoms.

There's a reason they're protected by the first amendment. Somehow, I'm not sure that online versions will indefinitely enjoy the same protections.

Plus print papers are PERMANENT(ish), whereas if things are entirely online, stories will evaporate, or details can be revised at will to fit policy.

Refer to Winston Smith's job in 1984... the only part that didn't make sense was how they could collect all the newspapers of a given day, destroy, reprint, and redistribute them with the new information. But once news is only reported online, there's no proof that anyone ever said anything, or that anything ever happened, or that we were ever at war with Eastasia rather than Eurasia.

I don't know how we could keep them afloat without conflict of interest, except maybe offering tax reductions -- I'd prefer seeing legitimate print media get tax exempt status rather than "churches".

[Joe Bacon]

8. Not ONE PENNY to the PRE$$TITUTE$!

Not one penny to liars like Broder.

Not one penny to liars like Richard Cohen.

Not one penny to liars like Judith Miller.

Not one penny to liars like Reverend Moon.

Not one penny to liars like Jonah Goldberg.

Not one penny to liars like George Will.

Not one penny to liars like Fred Hiatt

Not one penny to any PRE$$TITUTE$.

Since the Republican Party owns the Press, let them pay to keep their PRE$$TITUTE$ alive.

[SteppingRazor]

9. There's a whole lotta ignorant on this thread.

Really, newspapers -- your local, community newspapers -- are all a bunch of whores? The men and women who cover the local school board, the county commission, high school sports -- they're all unrepentant swine?

You know, when newspapers suffer, some of the first things to get lost are long-form, investigative journalistic pieces -- the very things that most lefty media critics would like to see more of, or at least the loss of which is often cited as journalists having abrogated their responsibility. By saying let them die, by saying newspapers need to go, you are effectively cheerleading as the best things about papers go away and are replaced by the sort of slap-dash, infotainment pap you claim to loathe.

Well, heck, you might say, I'll just go online for my news. Oh? That might be a problem, given that the online news aggregators, from Huffington Post to Google News and all in between, pull the majority of their news from the sites of newspapers and wire services, so good luck with getting your info online once newspapers are all history.

I don't think government funding of newspapers is a long-term solution, certainly, but whooping and hollering as newspapers die is just plain stupid.

[depakid]

14. That mau be so, but the problem is that many of these papers DO print outright lies

Over and over.

Clearly and demonstrably false statements of fact. And a lot of people are tired of it.

I say not one public nickle to them. NOT ONE.

If they want to move to a nonprofit type of deal, OK then. But the bottom line is that the American corporate media is profoundly unethical and dysfunctional- and we should not be propping it up.

[SteppingRazor]

15. I'll be the first to admit that newspapers aren't 100 percent correct, 100 percent of the time.

The alternative to fallible reporters trying to get to the truth is far, far worse, and newspapers do a far better job of reporting the news than any other journalistic medium. I'll take a paper over cable news or an Internet that doesn't have any newspaper reporting any day of the week.

[KansDem]

16. Yeah, they are "a bunch of whores"

Not all them, of course, but here in NE Kansas we have the "Johnson County Sun." Just last week, when our only Dem member of congress, Dennis Moore, announced he wasn't going to run for re-election, this rag went couldn't rave on enough how Kansas was going to go bright, bright red for years to come. Red from the two senators, 4 representatives, and governor (who presently is a Democrat--Kathleen Sebelius was our governor until she as tapped by Obama for Health and Human Services). Apparently, this rag figures 2010 will be a blow out for the GOP. Just how it figured that, I don't know.

I thought it was way out of line considering the mess the GOP left us in...

[niyad]

28. the local fishwrap here is a complete waste of trees. it is a completely reichwing, propoganda

spewing, worthless POS. doesn't really cover even local news all that well, and as for serious, in-depth, investigative journalism? not in my recollection.

we do, thankfully, have one of the alternative papers here, and I thank the stars for the internet, and linktv.

[Vinnie From Indy]

37. You make some excellent points!

I do think that there is a distinction between the major chains, the NYT & WaPo and local, community papers. If Waxman's statements were aimed squarely at these local independently owned newspapers, I am all for it. As for the others mentioned above, they are on their own in my opinion.

In Indianapolis we have a big daily, The Indy Star (USA/Gannett) and a few alternatives and community papers. I wouldn't give a warm bucket of spit to help the Indy Star. I cannot recall the last substantial piece of investigative journalism appearing on their pages. The only thing even close to real investigative journalism is tabloid style, attention getting, irrelevant nonsense almost always tied to some phobia or fear. Monkey's will fly out of my butt before The Star would ever, of their own iniative, investigate the high and mighty. They are almost always dragged into the story by events rather than investigative work. It should also be mentioned that when USA Today/Gannett took over the Indy Star the first thinig they did was take a chainsaw to the local reporting staff. They have even cut more since those early bloody days. The point is that papers like the Indy Star are a cancer on real journalism because they do not fulfill their basic duty of honestly reporting local, state and national news.

Also, I think that it should be taken into account that even if I did agree with Waxman and that govt. support should be given to the newspaper industry, it would still be an epic fail. The Internet is here and regardless of good intentions, the news business is changing forever. I also think that the talented and devoted reporters will find a voice and a place to practice their craft even if that place is not in a newspaper bullpen.

[Demeter]

10. Newsprint Is So Second Millenium

The future lies in the Internet--keep it cheap, safe and free.

[SteppingRazor]

11. Get back to me when the Internet figures out how to pay for a fully-staffed newsroom.

One that can generate its own content, completely independently of newspapers or real-world publishing companies, and pay its reporters, photographers, editors, etc.

[Demeter]

12. Ever Heard of AP? Reuters? UPI? The Onion?

It can and does happen.

[SteppingRazor]

13. Um ... you just named four entities that all reap almost all of their revenue offline.

The wire services make their bucks charging subscription fees to newspapers. And the Onion does, in fact, have an actual print edition in many major cities -- in fact, it was print before it was online. Besides which, it's kinda silly to compare it to an actual newspaper, as newspapers have costs that the Onion doesn't (photography and reporting spring immediately to mind, though the A/V Club does some of that.)

[gmoney]

18. Actually, the production values of the Onion beat my local papers

They do a lot of original photography and their graphics are top notch, and their photoshop skills are usually great. Plus, I'm sure good comedy writers earn a lot more than most "reporters". It seems they also hire actors/models a lot, because apart from their "columnists" and the "American Voices" folks, I don't see the same people over and over.

And their video segments are really impressive sometimes as to the lengths they'll go for a "story."

I agree with the rest of your post, but the Onion is top notch!

There are some "community newspapers" around here that are a complete joke as far as horrible photography and layout, and some of the pathetic "stories" they print. Mostly it's fluff submitted by proud parents -- they once actually printed a story that a local 3rd grader was "invited" to participate in the "Who's Who of American Elementary Students" (which is one of those scams where EVERY student is invited to participate, and gullible parents pay $59 a piece for a hardbound phone book with their kid's name and school listed in 6 point type on page 254. At times, they can be as amusing as the Onion, but I don't think they intend to be.

[Downtown Hound]

44. Have you ever heard of The Uptake, Democracy Now,

SubmediaTV, freespeechTV, Iwitness video, The Glass Bead Collective, and a whole host of other independent media outlets composed almost entirely of volunteers and run off of donations? The Uptake produced the best video on the RNC protests, hands down. Way better than the filtered propagandistic crap the corporate media put out. Democracy Now did the best coverage of Hurricane Katrina because they actually showed what was happening on the ground whereas the corporate media focused on the bumbling rescue. And let's not even go into the flag waving, Nazi-esque, overly glowy and ultra bullshit way the corporate media covered the Iraq War.

If corporate media died tomorrow, there would be plenty of new media to take it's place. And I for one, welcome it. And just so you know, I have a degree in journalism and used to work for ABC. My dream when I was younger was to be a writer for a newspaper. That dream was quickly crushed when I got out in the real world and saw just how fucked our media is. In my opinion, we'd be much better off without them. Let them die, and let the future generation of media that replaces them never forget the lessons of why they did.

[fascisthunter]

17. how about bailing out Americans in debt!

[24601]

19. Yes, yes...we can have a News Czar who channels money to the

failing newspapers just like with GM & Chrysler. Of course, taking government money means the Czar will appoint the editors and exercise control over the newspapers' content. Now who could possibly object to that. I've even selected a new motto for the NYT: "All The News We Allow You To Print".

[Joanne98]

20. HELL NO!

[emilyg]

22. No way.

[BunkerHill24]

23. Rep. Waxman is correct

America needs effective media....a mouth-piece for the empire, for future overseas wars, of course.

[1620rock]

24. Pfft, let em sink.

[BunkerHill24]

25. You would think that...

someone like Rep. Waxman who chaired HWMC which had hand on investigating the "Judy Miller fiasco", would know want to call on more money given to The New York Times and Washington Post, etc?

I must say, I am missing something here!

As the song goes; "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go"!

[totodeinhere]

35. Those newspapers are failing because their corporate masters won't let them print the truth.

If we had newspapers with a fair and unbiased editorial policy, then maybe more people would read them and patronize their advertisers. Meanwhile, the ignorant Republicans are watching Fox News, not reading newspapers.

For instance, I canceled my subscription to the New York Times when they started cheer leading for the Iraq war.

[Chef Eric]

26. It was our complicit media that helped to "catapult the propaganda" of Bush & Cheney.

And now Waxman wants to subsidize them? Ouch, the stoooopid... it BURNS.

[Imajika]

27. Err, no thanks..

The government should do nothing to help "preserve" serious journalism.

I consider most of the media outright terrible, which is why I won't pay to subscribe or even bother reading even when it's free.

When media put forth a product people want, they will watch, subscribe, and yes, even pay for it.

[FrenchieCat]

30. If they wouldn't have allowed AP to pimp their messed up story all over them.....

I'd say, give them a hand.

But considering the damage AP does everyday, I don't think so.

[raccoon]

31. NO FUCKING WAY. nt

[paparush]

32. Struggling media can go F-itself. yes, I have compassion/bailout fatigue. nt

[No Elephants]

33. Federally subsidized media is not media I want. Besides, I'm fresh out of bailout money.

Here's a novel idea: Put out a product people actually want to buy. It's called capitalism.

I am sick of capitalism that is capitalism only when a business does well, but becomes socialism when the business is in the hole. They get the profits, the taxpayer gets the losses. Enough of that bull.

[and-justice-for-all]

34. HELL FUCKING NO!!!!! nt

[Kingofalldems]

36. Moonie owned Washington Times becoming a free paper

Only home delivery will be charged. And they also cut 40% of employees.

[KamaAina]

46. Like the old Yankee adage says, "You get what you pay for"

:P

[Odin2005]

38. NOOOO! let the MSM die!

[Zhade]

39. Gosh, the media taking government money sure isn't a conflict of interest or anything!

This fucking country...

[KakistocracyHater]

40. God no! This should be blocked! Too many times taxpayers' money is

diverted from them to the wealthiest-enough! I'd rather have high-speed trains. Those in power feel they can take anything away from Americans, this can be agreed upon by Left & Right. How to deal with it is the start of disagreement.

[Devil_Fish]

41. And the people who make wodden wagon wheels are going out of buisness too, Should we bail them out?

Free market. When your buisiness makes a product that is no longer usefull your buisiness must adapt, or die. I realy hope the same thing happens to TV.

[sabrina 1]

42. I like Henry Waxman too, but I think he's going the wrong way

about this.

If we had real journalists covering real news, they would not be going out of business. Real journalists who actually do cover the news, cannot get a job in this country. People like Greg Palast, eg, had to go to the BBC because he was not allowed to do investigative journalism here. Dahr Jamail, who Sy Hersch praised for his war coverage, cannot get on US television or have his articles published in the US press.

So, millions of Americans now go to read journalists who ARE covering the news and don't bother with the MSM anymore. Big Corps are funding them, why should tax-payers be forced to pay for another shoddy product?

Sorry, Henry, I dont' agree. Like Wall St. they failed the American people, and we should not even think of baiing out another failed institution that will not serve the best interests of the people.

[Downtown Hound]

43. Henry, you might have a point if...

the piece of shit whore mongering corporate media actually gave a rat's ass about protecting democracy. But since they don't, let 'em burn!

[mitchum]

45. Struggling blacksmiths will need government help in face of horseless carriage scourge