Mike McGuireWell, this certainly is one possible solution to the problem facing small, typically local newspapers: a Maryland senator has submitted a bill that would allow struggling newspapers to become tax-exempt non-profits.
Possible benefits? Ad and subscription revenue would be tax exempt. Downside? Non-profit papers could not make political endorsements or recommendations.
While it’s unlikely the New York Times would ever take advantage of the provisions of the bill introduced by Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Maryland, smaller independent papers could. And maybe should.
Is the endorsement of political candidates and ballot measures as important (to the readers and the newspaper) as the coverage of those campaigns which would still be allowed if the papers became non-profits? I don’t think so. I believe the endorsements by newspapers are/were largely a by-product of the publisher’s ego. None of the newspapers I worked for solicited input from the rank-and-file reporters or editors for any of the endorsements. (And they shouldn’t have if objectivity was desired.) The endorsements are/were done by a paper’s “editorial board” which was typically packed with the publisher’s cronies.
Thoughts?
Comments Off
Category: Uncategorized Tags:
