"If we're willing to use taxpayer money to build roads, pay teachers and maintain a military; if we're willing to bail out banks and insurance companies and failing automakers, we should be willing to part with some public funds to keep journalism alive too."Not everyone in the journalism industry is on board. Brooks' article is debated on the Testy Copy Editors messages boards. Many people who posted are concerned that if newspapers receive money for the government, it will influence what they write about. The role of the Fourth Estate in the United States has always been to police the government and it might interfere with that process.
However, according to Brooks, saving newspapers will strengthen newspaper's watchdog role. In the article she writes, that a "decimated, demoralized and under-resourced press corp" did not question the war in Iraq. Government funding will strengthen the media and keep politicians honest.
I don't know if government bailouts is the best solution to save newspapers. But, I do think it's good that people are discussing this problem and reminding people about the importance of journalism.
I'm hesitant about this as well. It is a good idea and it's probably terrible for me to say this, but there are many other sectors of the economy that need a bailout more. Yes, I want a job when I graduate, but if the housting market and auto industry don't improve, how will anything else? I want the whole economy to bounce back, not just my desired field.
ReplyDeleteJournalism is incredibly important but I know it will never die. What's important now is for papers to embrace the new technology of the Internet and see what we can do to move journalism into something new.
I can see both sides on this issue, but I think it's best if the government doesn't bail out newspapers. I say this because then news organizations would lose some of the independence that shapes their history. In addition to that, I don't think journalism will ever die. Newspapers as we know them may end, but journalism will not because it's so central to our way of life. It's just going to be presented in a different way. When that happens, it has a better chance at being financially successful and will not need government help.
ReplyDeleteI also must agree and say that I do not know what should happen. Because I can see how if the government gives newspapers money, then people may not think that the newspapers are being watchdogs and doing what they are supposed to be doing. However, if the newspapers don't receive a bail out then they may not be able to keep publishing. So I think there needs to be some kind of middle ground so that the newspapers can continue and the public won't be skeptical about the content in the papers.
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