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  #1  
Old 12-02-2009, 09:15 PM
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Should the government subsidize newspapers?

I see that a Congressman has proposed that the US taxpayers subsidize the newspaper industry.
What do you all t think? Is that a good idea?

Historically it was the role of "the Press" to speak for the people, and hold the government accountable.
If it receives money from the government will it still fulfil that function? If it can't should it survive?

No baiting, or trolling; just want to know what the members here think about the idea.

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  #2  
Old 12-02-2009, 09:19 PM
Craig
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Nope, there are plenty of other sources of information. I haven't gotten a "paper" newspaper in years. These companies do need to figure out how to make a profit without printing a physical paper.

I don't think a government supported news outlet could be sufficiently independent.
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  #3  
Old 12-02-2009, 09:24 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MS Fowler View Post
I see that a Congressman has proposed that the US taxpayers subsidize the newspaper industry.
What do you all t think? Is that a good idea?

Historically it was the role of "the Press" to speak for the people, and hold the government accountable.
If it receives money from the government will it still fulfil that function? If it can't should it survive?

No baiting, or trolling; just want to know what the members here think about the idea.
Can I have a link to that story?
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  #4  
Old 12-02-2009, 09:28 PM
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that is the exact reason so many have a problem with this WH

The we can do what ever we want

And their is nothing anyone can do about it -\

cept 2010 than 2012 is around the corner === jz
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  #5  
Old 12-02-2009, 09:43 PM
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Originally Posted by johnjzjz View Post
that is the exact reason so many have a problem with this WH

The we can do what ever we want

And their is nothing anyone can do about it -\

cept 2010 than 2012 is around the corner === jz
There are no congressmen in the WH.
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  #6  
Old 12-02-2009, 10:32 PM
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A while back there was an interview with someone about the pros and cons of the internet. One of the interesting things he was saying was that craigslist only has 30 employees but is taking thousands of jobs away around the country from local newspapers that rely on there daily personal ads.

But should we subsidize papers, I don't think so. Why not subsidize the makers of film also. We evolve, things disappear, sometimes for the better and many times not.
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Old 12-02-2009, 11:00 PM
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I'm broke. I don't earn as much as I spend. Well, what the hell. I'll go sponsor a few kids in Nigeria. WTF!! IF the newspapers cannot survive on it's own, let it die. OTOH, it might not be a bad idea to subsidize the papers. That way, whomever is in charge might decide to cut down sponsorship to certain newspapers that print an unfriendly view of them and reward those that do or to give the appearance of fairness, punish collectively for bad press and give more money for favorable reports.
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  #8  
Old 12-02-2009, 11:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Jorn View Post
A while back there was an interview with someone about the pros and cons of the internet. One of the interesting things he was saying was that craigslist only has 30 employees but is taking thousands of jobs away around the country from local newspapers that rely on there daily personal ads.

But should we subsidize papers, I don't think so. Why not subsidize the makers of film also. We evolve, things disappear, sometimes for the better and many times not.
What about John Deere that takes away many of the farmhand's jobs? What about Ford who stole many of the livelihoods of those that were in the horse business? Where does it end?
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  #9  
Old 12-02-2009, 11:11 PM
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IF the newspapers cannot survive on it's own, let it die.
The copy editor in me is screaming bloody murder as I read that sentence. Not because you suggest newspapers should be allowed to die ... because you not only used a singular pronoun with a plural noun, you used the contraction of "it is," instead of the possessive of "it."

All that said, I am not in favor of government subsidy for journalism, even if it would save my job. That is absolutely antithetical to journalism's purpose. That the industry has devolved the way it has is a shame, and bothers me very much. But I can't say that throwing money at it will do much of anything but undercut its independence. I don't want to work for a government newsletter.
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  #10  
Old 12-02-2009, 11:19 PM
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My wife is in the magazine publishing business. Circulation and ad revenues are way down and will probably never come back. Paper printing and distribution is very expensive and without large scale production its even more so. They are clawing around for ideas, but even little gimmicks like page inserts cost a lot and don't guarantee anything. Some will survive and diversify but I bet half the publishers today will be gone in 5 years, especially with stuff like Kindle coming along.
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Old 12-02-2009, 11:22 PM
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Honestly in this age there is no need for a printed paper anymore....sure some people prefer it, but its really the slowest and most expensive (and physically wasteful) way to obtain information.

Books are different....since they are kept permanently and don't really have a "shelf life", a paper is really only usable for a very short amount of time....so its kind of a waste.

I bet in the future newspapers will disappear entirely. Especially as the population has ever more "digital era" individuals.
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  #12  
Old 12-02-2009, 11:26 PM
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Originally Posted by BodhiBenz1987 View Post
All that said, I am not in favor of government subsidy for journalism, even if it would save my job. That is absolutely antithetical to journalism's purpose. That the industry has devolved the way it has is a shame, and bothers me very much. But I can't say that throwing money at it will do much of anything but undercut its independence. I don't want to work for a government newsletter.
So, what's the secret to actually making a profit as a news provider when almost all information is available for free? It does not appear that subscription models work because there are too many alternate free sources of news. Are online advertising rates sufficient to support a news organization? Would "newspapers" be better off to completely abandoned the physical paper and go digital only? I read someplace that the NY Times would be able to buy each of their subscribers a Kindle with the printing/transportation savings if they went digital.
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Old 12-02-2009, 11:31 PM
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Books are different....since they are kept permanently and don't really have a "shelf life"....
I don't really buy physical books anymore (unless it's something I really want to keep). I can buy many e-books for $10-15 and they don't clutter up my office. I probably buy 2 or 3 e-books per month, I rarely buy a physical book.
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  #14  
Old 12-02-2009, 11:37 PM
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I don't really buy physical books anymore (unless it's something I really want to keep). I can buy many e-books for $10-15 and they don't clutter up my office. I probably buy 2 or 3 e-books per month, I rarely buy a physical book.
Same here.....I was just trying to be nice to books.

For technical manuals books can be nice though.....I suppose that doesn't count.
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  #15  
Old 12-02-2009, 11:42 PM
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I didn't think it was possible, but I've weaned myself off the paper manuals. Now my office looks like I don't do anything.

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