Senator proposes that newspapers be allowed tax-exempt status
U.S. Sen Benjamin L. Cardin, a Democrat from Maryland, has introduced legislation that would allow newspapers to operate as non-profits with tax-exempt status, like PBS and NPR.
His goal is to help local papers, not newspaper chains.
Cardin said in a press release issued Tuesday:
“We are losing our newspaper industry. The economy has caused an immediate problem, but the business model for newspapers, based on circulation and advertising revenue, is broken, and that is a real tragedy for communities across the nation and for our democracy.
“While we have lots of news sources, we rely on newspapers for in-depth reporting that follows important issues, records events and exposes misdeeds. In fact, most if not all sources of journalistic information - from radio to television to the Internet - gathers their news from newspaper reporters who cover the news on a daily basis and know their communities. It is in the interest of our nation and good governance that we ensure they survive.”
Steve Parker is the deputy managing editor for news, and oversees the Post-Dispatch's front page. STLtoday's online news editors are on his newsroom team. Parker has been at the paper since September 1980. 
I hope this doesn’t happen. Newspapers would be beholden to the government, and we know where that would lead. There’s got to be another way.
Hell No! The remaining threads of objectivity would be gone and newspapers would officially become fully Democrat propaganda machines.
Is this Obama’s payback for helping him get into office?
EJR - thanks for taking my “first” spot. Couldn’t agree with all of you more. With newspapers following in the steps of NPR and PBS, God help America. Not that it would be any different than what already exists, but this will just lead us further down the road of a Fascist state. What’s next, control of content on the Internet after they destroy talk radio?
Hello China!
Whew! Acentric in a few brief lines moves from dumping on NPR & PBS to Fascism. The breadth (little depth) is stunning.
What would happen if the local NPR station were to include in its’ “newsletter” items of local news interest?
However, if we are going to grant newspapers, not “communication” conglomerates a tax exempt staus, does that mean we will no longer have to pay sales tax on them at the cash register?
How about if we move from the other end, have newspapers offer online content via subscription, or regular subscribers to the paper each get a id number that allows them access a greater depth of on-line articles that are not available to the “free” internet?
RH - thanks for the usual attack. So, if the state controls the media, that isn’t Facsism? What do you call it then, certainly not a free press which is what our country was founded on. You don’t agree with that or you just like to attack me to amuse yourself?
Here is more on the topic. Newspapers who take the tax-exempt status, will not be allowed to endorse political candidates. I have been saying that for years. I think it is a conflict of interest.
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE52N67F20090324
A Centrist… I hope you really don’t believe there is a free press — at least not in the absolute sense. Particular advertisers can hold too much sway. I once wrote a news story about a civil lawsuit filed against a national fast-food chain, only to have it not appear in print. My guess is someone at the fast-food chain made a call to the higher-ups at the newspaper, and reminded them how much money the chain spent on print advertising. Poof! The story inexplicably went up in smoke. Well, actually, there was an explanation given for the story not having run, but it was bull.
Acentric -
“So, if the state controls the media, that isn’t Facsism?” Not necessarily fascism (according to the classical definition, although state control of the media is despotic/tyrannic etc.) That is not what is under discussion as far as I read the issue.
The issue is to allow newspapers to operate as Non-Profits, hardly state control. At least that is what the Reuters article you referenced says. Most charities are Non-Profits, and they are hardly under state control.
The confusion seems to be between “regulations”, which come with tax-exempt status, and “control” which is what Rupert Murdoch and other media moguls have.
As to my “attack” on you, well let’s just say that when someone moves agreeing with someone else’s post/interpretation through NPR & PBS and ending up with Fascism in 49 words or less, well that is a stunning leap worthy of Carl Lewis.
Just another Dumbocrat that wants to reward failure.