Mainstream Media Bailout Bill Introduced
Friday, March 27, 2009 6:44A few weeks ago, we speculated that a bailout for the mainstream media may be on the horizon and today we sadly report that the first mainstream media bailout bill has been introduced.
(Photo courtesy of DavidIcke.com)
The “Newspaper Revitalization Act” was introduced this week by Senator Benjamin Cardin, a Democrat from Maryland.
“We are losing our newspaper industry the economy has caused an immediate problem, but the business model for newspapers, based on circulation and advertising revenue, is broken, and that is a real tragedy for communities across the nation and for our democracy. It is in the interest of our nation and good governance that we ensure they survive” said Senator Cardin.
The act would grant newspapers tax-free status as non-profits, a deal similar to that enjoyed by public broadcasting outlets, which survive on tax-deductible contributions from listeners. The newspapers, however, will also be able to enjoy tax free advertising revenue.
Is it really in the interest of our nation to bailout the newspapers?
Are these not the same newspapers that led the unchallenged drumbeat into the Iraq war? The newspapers who cheered for the economy as it became apparent that there were real problems emerging? Should we bailout a newspaper industry who has failed to properly inform the public as to where $10 trillion+ of their money has gone? The newspapers who silenced the campaign of Ron Paul, a Presidential candidate who broke fund raising records on his message of freedom.
The newspaper industry, owned and controlled by a hand full of giant media companies, has been reduced to an un-hired PR firm of the US government. A quick glance at the sourcing of major newspaper articles makes this clear (Watch the Robert Fisk video below). They are dying because they deserve to die.
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Jeffry Pilcher says:
March 27th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous. So now there’s “too nostalgic to fail” to go along with “too big to fail?” Why didn’t Congress bailout the Pony Express when the telephone came along? Or cruise lines when the airplane came along?
If you picked up the shovel, dug the hole and buried yourself (are you listening GM?), why should anyone help dig you out?
Can’t keep up with innovations in your industry? Too bad. You’ve got no one to blame but yourself.
bilejones says:
March 27th, 2009 at 9:44 am
I wish people would stop referring to the corporate media whores as “Mainstream” . These extremist Statist Politician worshiping clowns are far removed from the mainstream.
downditty says:
March 27th, 2009 at 9:50 am
you know they’ll pass this bill o, or one like it. even if congress gets flooded with calls or letters. they dont care. this is the SOURCE of the politicians power structure
hANOVER fIST says:
March 27th, 2009 at 10:28 am
“Are these not the same newspapers that led the unchallenged drumbeat into the Iraq war? The newspapers who cheered for the economy as it became apparent that there were real problems emerging? Should we bailout a newspaper industry who has failed to properly inform the public as to where $10 trillion+ of their money has gone? The newspapers who silenced the campaign of Ron Paul, a Presidential candidate who broke fund raising records on his message of freedom.
The newspaper industry, owned and controlled by a hand full of giant media companies, has been reduced to an un-hired PR firm of the US government. A quick glance at the sourcing of major newspaper articles of makes this clear (Watch the Robert Fisk video below). They are dying because they deserve to die.”
Exactly the point – the “mainstream media” (which should heretofore be referred to as DISTRACTION MEDIA), has changed from being watchdogs for WE THE PEOPLE to being LAPDOGS and stenographers for the scumbags who are attempting to remove our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
They consistently and constantly LIED to us. They do NOT deserve a bailout. Let them DIE.
johnny says:
March 27th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Great blog, I visit every day now.
Newspapers will still fold. A turd can only float so long.
Inezz says:
March 27th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Robert fisk is himself a whore-shill. He is among those who refuse to consider Israel- US role in 911. He kissed the Syrians asses until they fell into disfavor- now he is against them.
But at least he does visit the places he writes (inaccurately) about, and is still a better whore than ours’.
Kris says:
March 27th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
If this country stripped corporations of their status of “personhood,” protected by constitutional rights, we would have the kind of journalism this country needs. Corporations have more power than our country’s government. When corporations (with their commercial interests and congressional lobbying access) control the journalists who write news stories, editorial decisions fall in line with corporate commercial interest.
Journalism is not dead in this country, or any other country. What happens is that journalists embed facts and clues in less high-profile areas of articles, editors place articles that challenge commercial interests in less high-profile areas of newspapers, and so on. It is maddening to a citizen to have to hunt for truth and facts. But this is no reason to invite the demise of journalism. Without the press corps (even if that press only publishes for online news organizations) we will no longer even have the option of obtaining local and regional news. Then what happens to civil institutions and laws? What happens to civil rights?
Mainstream Media Bailout Bill Introduced | The Gonzo Report says:
March 28th, 2009 at 7:40 am
[...] Revitalization Act” was introduced this week by Senator Benjamin Cardin, a Democrat from Maryland. full story (No Ratings Yet) Related posts:Bailout for The Mainstream Media May be NextMajority of voters [...]
Malone Ducklo says:
March 28th, 2009 at 11:15 am
W.R. Hearst started The War On Drugs which gave us The Police State. He made Billy Graham famous which turned Christians into Zionists. it’s just too bad newspapers didn’t go out of business a long time ago.
Proposal for a Newspaper “Bailout” is Obvious Subsidy For Propaganda Machine « Richard Penney.com says:
March 28th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
[...] newspaper bailout…which is absurd. Now another unscrupulous politician is proposing The Newspaper Revitalization Act. There is going to be a lot of nonsense from politicians about the newspaper industry and [...]
Jeffry Pilcher says:
March 29th, 2009 at 10:09 am
@chartingstocks1 – Dude, you have some really weird readers. None of them are really interested in the economy, finance, stocks or charts.
chartingstocks1 says:
March 30th, 2009 at 7:00 am
Jeffry; they are certainly a diverse bunch..but i think that its all related..the political ties into the economics
Jeffry Pilcher says:
March 30th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Newspapers certainly didn’t do their due diligence on the run-up to the Iraq war. They didn’t even perform some basic journalistic duties. But I don’t think their clever enough to be part of some vast, Right-wing conspiracy (or Left-wing for that matter). They are mostly clueless clowns just trying to figure out how to push some pulp. If that means taking positions or contriving controversy when there isn’t any, they’ll do it. But what they won’t do (apparently) is change with the times. But if the Right was so smart that they were able to turn the “mainstream media” into a bunch of toadies (as more than one commenter here implied), then why weren’t they smart enough to see the tide changing and force the media to evolve?
hANOVER fIST says:
April 6th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Evolution isn’t part of the plan.
Cardin’s Proposed Newspaper Bailout a Bad Idea | Liberty Thought.com says:
September 1st, 2009 at 10:43 pm
[...] Back on January 1, 2009 I had posted about a possible newspaper bailout. Now another unscrupulous politician, Benjamin Cardin (D) is proposing The Newspaper Revitalization Act. [...]