Cardin, David Simon to discuss future of journalism
Sen. John Kerry will be chairing a Senate hearing tomorrow on the future of journalism, and a couple of prominent Marylanders are scheduled to testify.
First up will be Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin, the Maryland Democrat who has introduced legislation that would allow newspapers to operate as non-profit organizations. Later comes Wire creator David Simon, the former Baltimore Sun reporter who is now among the newspaper’s most prominent critics.
Also scheduled to appear before Kerry’s commerce subcommittee on communications, technology and the Internet will be Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington, Dallas Morning News publisher James M. Maroney, former Washington Post managing editor Steve Coll and former Miami Herald publisher Alberto Ibarguen.
Comments
Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington
You've got to be kidding me. How this woman has any credibility is beyond me.
Posted by: me | May 6, 2009 9:24 AM
Although I have respect for Ben Cardin, I don't know how he expects newspapers to survive if they become non-profit entities. The benefits would be that they pay no income taxes, and that contributions by donors would be tax deductible. I don't think income taxes are putting the newspapers out of business, nor do I think individuals would "contribute" more if their subscriptions were to become tax deductible. The problems newspapers have with maintaining profitability is that more people get their news from other sources (TV, USA Today and internet) and newspapers have become increasingly partisan in their coverage of the news. Throw in increasing costs for paper, print, wages and benefits, and there is probably little that can be done to salvage most newspapers as we know them. Which is too bad.
Posted by: Paul | May 6, 2009 2:19 PM