Comments on: What should the government do to help journalism?

By: Cynthia Flournoy

Cynthia Flournoy — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:29:55 +0000

I am in complete agreement that health insurance coupled with employment are “golden handcuffs” that stifle not only entrepreneurship in journalism but all business sectors. Although it is nice in theory to say that the relationship between employment and health insurance should be severed we must ask what is a real remedy. The only solutions that have been proposed still lead us down Hayek’s “road to serfdom”. Interesting read and thanks!

By: 66.91.82.13

66.91.82.13 — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:31:08 +0000

Technology has advanced what was true Constitutionally into reality for anyone with access to a keyboard.

Despite the healthy news of growing individual activity, many readers/viewers retain greater trust in news that comes by paper and screen from companies that work in printing plants, studios and office buildings. These conventional media are at crisis point with traditional supporters and careerists desperate for answers. Solutions probably will not come from managers/staffers on the inside handling daily tasks of survival, busy with ever more attempts at communal sharing and electronic re-tooling of their product.

Concerned leaders with assets of conscience (possibly outsiders and alumni of the news business) are needed for this rescue. These should be people who recognize the priorities of reliable content, advertising, production and distribution. They should be joined in this turnaround effort by others who run major foundations

By: 72.196.19.237

72.196.19.237 — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:28:45 +0000

#1: NO WAY, Robert! Punish investment to subsidize failing news outlets? It’s a Stalinist wet dream! If they can’t keep up with the times, let them fail. I suggest you stop subscribing to Krugmanist economics and read up on F.A. Hayek instead.

#2: Yes! Health insurance never should have been linked to employment.

By: 68.111.136.166

68.111.136.166 — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:48:36 +0000

What should government do to help journalism? NOTHING. Since their definition of journalism seems to be these formerly fatcat publishers who looted the newspaper industry and then were too dumb to see what journalism was becoming giving any money to these same pigs who laid off everybody but kept the worst faux journalists who were sniveling coward kiss-but hacks is criminal. They want to help journalism? Give aid to innovative new era online outlets such as http://www.92067freepress.com in a public outreach venue. Don’t give money to the morons who stole the actual journalists’ production, made huge profits up to the 2000s and then gutted the industry.

By: Robert Niles

Robert Niles — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:40:56 +0000

(Slaps forehead.) Duh. Knew that. (Or used to….) Fixed. Thanks.

By: 63.172.18.5

63.172.18.5 — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:02:40 +0000

“Last week’s Federal Trade Commission hearings on the journalism industry beg the question: Just what should the U.S. federal government be doing, if anything, to help the journalism industry?”

Perhaps the government should teach journalists the proper usage of “beg the question.”

http://begthequestion.info/