Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


2

Papers Can't Ask for Bailout, Seek Rule Change Instead

Handout would violate journos' watchdog role

Share

(Newser) – With the industry in dire straits, some in the journalism business want government help—but they’re not looking for a financial bailout, Reuters reports. “That is so clearly contrary to what our role is as a watchdog that it’s just not acceptable,” said a former newspaper editor. What publishers want are legal concessions: changes to antitrust laws, tax breaks, perhaps the ability to become non-profits.

A change in antitrust laws could allow publishers to gather and figure out how to fix the industry. As it stands, “antitrust concerns inhibit even the most rudimentary discussions,” says a newspaper head. The attorney general says he’s not opposed to such a move. But the head of the Federal Trade Commission says “the nature of the problem” needs a closer look first.

Calvin Harden sells the Chicago Sun-Times, Dec. 4, 2006.
Calvin Harden sells the Chicago Sun-Times, Dec. 4, 2006.   (AP Photo)
A copy of the Boston Globe is seen after a home delivery in North Andover, Mass., April 30, 2009.
A copy of the Boston Globe is seen after a home delivery in North Andover, Mass., April 30, 2009.   (AP Photo)
The front page of the New York Times is shown Jan. 5, 2009.
The front page of the New York Times is shown Jan. 5, 2009.   (AP Photo)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.6.09
Galleon Scandal: Shocked, Shocked by Insider Trading
11.5.09
Rupert Murdoch Is Mad but Cute
2 comments
VIEWING:
 
NewserHound
Jun 3, 09 3:34 PM CDT
What Would Wolff Say??? Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
Chudluv
Jun 3, 09 7:01 PM CDT
Another outdated business model that needs to change in the face of new technology. If they cannot adapt to the new "world" then why in the heck should the Government step-in to help.... First try improving your business model without Government intervention and see where it "lands" you. I think we are going to see the in-fighting we saw with large Newspaper Company's that were locking in battle for the mass readers back in the late 1890's to 1930's. If this makes papers go out and work the story's then printing every handout given to them, and investment in new technology; they might not be in the spot they are in now. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

135 Stories

 How the Onion 
 Writes Headlines 

New book Our Front Pages explores the evolution

Nov 3, 09 1:02 PM CST
(Newser) - The Onion's writers have a backward way of generating stories: They come up with the headlines first. The staff devotes the first two days of each week to rejecting headlines like “Quick and Painless Overthrow of Taliban Enters Eighth Year” in favor of “US Continues Quagmire-Building Effort in... More »

MORE ABOUT:
media • newspaper • satire • The Onion • headlines

 Newspaper Circulation Off 10% 

Decline one of the biggest ever

Oct 26, 09 1:22 PM CDT
(Newser) - Daily newspaper circulation has taken a massive 10.6% drop over the past six months, the Audit Bureau of Circulations said today, while Sunday circulation fell 7.4%. The drop, one of the worst ever, is a potent sign of the industry’s decline, Editor & Publisher reports. Things... More »

MORE ABOUT:
media • newspaper • USA Today • circulation • newspaper industry • newspaper circulation

Clarence Page

Actually, Fox Is
a Legit News Operation

Obama must start following through on campaign promises

Oct 25, 09 2:13 PM CDT
(Newser) - Risking his wife's wrath, Clarence Page has to admit he agrees with Sean Hannity. The Fox News host has correctly called President Obama on the disconnect between campaign rhetoric and the attempted boycott of Hannity's employer. "It is disingenuous for right-wing pundits to accuse Obama of dividing the country,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
television • media • cable TV • White House • journalism • Fox News • Glenn Beck • Sean Hannity • Obama administration • President Obama

Guardian Axes American Website After 2 Years

Hit by losses, media company discontinues Guardian America

Oct 21, 09 4:15 AM CDT
(Newser) - Guardian News and Media, which lost $60.3 million last year, is shutting its US-centered website Guardian America after two years. The site will now redirect to the Guardian newspaper's American coverage. Guardian America's head will instead focus on international expansion for guardian.co.uk. "We took it down... More »

MORE ABOUT:
newspaper • online news • Guardian America • newspaper industry • Guardian Media Group • Guardian

well, duh

 Some UK Tabloid Stories 
 Are Fake: Documentary 

Starsuckers exposes tabloids' habit of publishing fabricated gossip

Oct 15, 09 11:45 AM CDT
(Newser) - The upcoming British documentary Starsuckers proves what we’ve always suspected: Tabloids—at least, UK tabloids—will print just about anything, including “complete and utter babble,” the director tells the Guardian. Among the fake stories he got published—and, often, reprinted around the world: Avril Lavigne passed... More »

MORE ABOUT:
entertainment • media • newspaper • tabloids • celebrity • gossip • documentary • Amy Winehouse • Avril Lavigne • Guy Ritchie • British tabloids • Starsuckers

135 Stories


Vanity Fair boss: how to fix the industry
Vanity Fair

Execs gather, look to future
AFP

Newspaper Association head's letter to employees
Techdirt


Business  •  Media  •  Politics 
TwitterFollow @NewserBusiness on Twitter

 
media • newspaper • antitrust • journalism • American media • newspaper industry

from our news partners