The president said he is "happy to look at" bills before Congress that would give struggling news organizations tax breaks if they were to restructure as nonprofit businesses.
Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) has introduced S. 673, the so-called "Newspaper Revitalization Act," that would give outlets tax deals if they were to restructure as 501(c)(3) corporations.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs had played down the possibility of government assistance for news organizations, which have been hit by an economic downturn and dwindling ad revenue.
Instead, the newspapers rely on government grants, which means the government can impose restrictions, which means the newspapers become the mouthpieces of the government, which they really are now but as a non-profit, it seems all the less sordid and fascist.
But on the other hand - does this mean buying a newspaper is a charitable contribution?
4 comments:
It's called Moral Hazard
Dunno, Digi,
Grants, especially government grants, tend to have strings attached.
There are those of us now retired from the journalism craft who remember how well the Newspaper Preservtion Act worked, for the owners, but not particularly well for the public or for the employees.
I hope you'll also let your friends know about Obama's NEWEST push: the "net neutrality act"...the new code word for "fairness doctrine". (and, don't worry....it doesn't apply to tv...)
Can someone tell me where I can buy another 1000 rounds of 9MM ammo?
Post a Comment