Bailout Nation

" The government has given them a car companies -- pretty much all of Wall Street so why not a bailout for. Newspapers with so many on the brink of bankruptcy that move may be closer than you think just last week the state of New Hampshire agreed to back. A loan to one of its days and several bills -- are ready. Been introduced in congress including a measure sponsored by Maryland Democrat and card. That would allow newspaper companies to restructure as non profits with a variety of tax expected September President Obama said he would quote. Be happy to look at that -- and others for more we're joined by senior editorial page writer Tom. So -- is this really an idea that is being taken seriously and political circles."

" Well I think it is being taken sort of seriously and you have to remember Paul this is an incredibly faustian bargain for newspapers. There was a recent report done by former Washington post's executive editor Leonard Downey and Columbia journalism professor Michael should -- That basically talks about all sorts of ideas for how the government. Can help the press and what you're talking about here in what they are suggesting is that the only way for the press to maintain its independence. Is it for -- it's basically surrender that independence. In the form of --"

" Subsidy so what are the specific ideas they're talking about I gather one of them is to have these. Subsidies seed money if you will for a local news reporting councils around the country because one of the concerns here. Is that local newspapers are being having their business models and blown up in your losing. That local coverage so we've sprinkled government. Money sent to local cities that congress would -- that --"

" Yes publisher went and this is a disastrous idea because what -- basically be doing is creating a national network of state funded reporters. And that wouldn't be good for local reporting it it would also. You know probably not be good for the circulation of local papers because."

" Local readers would start to find that sort of coverage dubious but here's the idea economy and people's evidence would be nothing more than the National Endowment for the Arts say you know -- It's subsidizes certain -- and that -- politicized at all so what's the problem. Race right well that's -- obviously I wouldn't say the national endowment for the arts is particularly shining --"

" Example here. But the other issue is you know more seriously the National Endowment for the Arts isn't directly tasked with being a watchdog for government. And that's simply very different sort of relationship that newspapers --"

" All right Dan -- subsidies for the press please."

" Absolutely not how tough. Look here's the problem -- Colombia or a review study is talking about taking newspapers to nonprofit status and back. For at least the past forty years most journalist on the speakers think they've been engaged in some sort of nonprofit enterprise. They -- newspapers as a public trust as a public good. And that that the -- that support them sort of came from the truth area there really can't think about that stuff because I'm doing all these good things. You look profit from seventy to 89 onward the newspaper business. Because of business in New York City use they have seven or eight daily papers competing and fighting -- doubtful we're news and for profits this would simply take. Newspapers into an area that would make them less competitive less interest thing all the reasons why people have been -- them. For financial I want to ask I think --"

" I wanna read a different point of view from the Columbia Journalism Review editorial -- right government has always subsidize the press this country. Starting with legislation -- 1792 that established below cost -- rates for for newspapers over the years some subsidies have worked well others myself. But the idea that a purely commercial media alone can continue to deliver the journalism we need is becoming difficult to swallow. If we don't get beyond the rational but outdated fear of government help for accountability journalism if we just let the market sort it out. This vital public good will continue to decline towards the."

" they can and then other times the word accountability was used in that particular I can place accountability mean it means. -- very important social issues and encouragement of a dozen. And the rest of it. The sad thing is that this point of view divides the great populist. Of the United States with disinterested in reading that recipes apparently according to the journalism review and it just -- crossword puzzles. Without -- either of those don't know without this kind of funding that we wouldn't have people reading those wonderful editorials and reports. -- this kind of snobbery behind all of this that the government should tell --"

" It's -- what about this idea that the press has always been subsidized in someway -- some mail -- somehow by the by the government."

" Well it didn't -- subsidies come in very different forms and I I think you have to look at. What's happening now you're actually seeing this week we saw for the first time. The state of New Hampshire guaranteed. A loan worth about 200000 dollars. 21 of its local newspapers so. You're now seeing a situation where you have a direct government handout to newspaper and I think that the kind of relationship. That creates between editors and reporters and the local politicians they cover. You know this is a lot -- then you know and may only."

" Because -- today that that the tax code subsidizes every business in America one where -- when they're not wholly owned subsidiaries of the government which is what we're talking. About -- again with."