Do Ailing Newspapers Need the Government to Save Them?

In today's economy, hearing of another company or industry possibly heading for failure is not good. But if we attempt to save a news media industry, we take on a potentially much more dangerous problem: government influence of the news message itself. Despite our best intentions, we are imperfect beings and we tend to avoid biting the hand that feeds us. On a daily, real-life level, I would be very concerned that the management of a newspaper would be reluctanct to criticize a government official who is keeping them in business.

I also think we need to be more careful when we bring the comments of an historic figure like Thomas Jefferson into the arument. I think it is a misguided and somewhat superficial interpretation of his comments to say that what he held so dear was the physical printing of the news. Considering that in his day, the country did not have the internet, TV, radio, or even electricity, the physical newspaper was the only real means of mass news reporting to the people. It is far more likely that his passion was actually in a news supply to the people that is TOTALLY UNINFLUENCED by the government. If Thomas Jefferson were alive today, I would be shocked if he would support even the remotest government involvement in the news, its reporters, or its funding. I believe his message was to guard against such dangers.

Mark J. Reiff of WI 2:25PM April 26, 2009