Democrat Senators push to get coronavirus rescue money for media outlets

[mystery-ak]

Democrat Senators push to get coronavirus rescue money for media outlets
April 12, 2020 | Julie Armstrong

A group of Democratic senators, including Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), are calling for funding from any future COVID-19 stimulus bill to support local journalism and media.

Addressed to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Minority Leader Charles Schumer, Chairman Richard Shelby and Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy, the Congressional letter begs for additional funds to be allocated to suffering media outlets so the American people do not “risk losing one of their key sources of accurate information” in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

“We write to ask that any future coronavirus stimulus package contain funding to support local journalism and media. Without this support, communities across the country risk losing one of their key sources of accurate information about what citizens need to know and do in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” the letter reads.

While mainstream outlets such as The New York Times and The Washington Post can derive a certain percentage of income from subscriptions, local media outlets rely heavily on ad revenue as their main source of revenue. This is an area that has suffered as a result of mandatory shutdowns of “non-essential businesses.” For them, no income means no money to buy ad space. This concern, among others, was detailed in the Congressional letter which describes local media as “indispensable” and “watchdog for government and corporate accountability.”

For over a decade, there has been a steady succession of local outlets closing down, reporters being laid off, production schedules cut, and resources tightened as the growth of social media and technology platforms has concentrated critical advertising revenue in the hands of a few. But the current public health crisis has made this problem worse. As many communities have shut down local restaurants, entertainment venues, and other non essential businesses in an attempt to “flatten the curve,” local papers and local broadcasters have lost even more of the advertising revenue they rely on from these businesses.

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https://www.bizpacreview.com/2020/04/12/democrat-senators-push-to-get-coronavirus-rescue-money-for-media-outlets-907513

[Applewood]

Like I said when the giveaways started -- before long there will be a lengthy queue of  other industries with their hands out.  And they will have the Democrats to fight for them.  Where does it end? 

I don't know about other local media outlets, but where I live, it looks like the local tv stations still have plenty of ads.  Local sponsors have generally reworked their ads to show what they are doing during this pandemic.  But the ads are still running.   

I call BS on this one.

[Cyber Liberty]

My local paper is in real trouble, with all the Casino adds pulled.  That said, I don't want gummint bailing them out.

[jafo2010]

No more bailouts.  PERIOD!

Restart the economy and keep those areas of the country partially shutdown or fully shutdown by criteria they need to develop to minimize the overflow possibilities on hospitals.  As great as our healthcare system is, it does have finite limits on capacity, how many go to the hospital at one time.

Again, no one knows a damn thing because there is no antibody testing.  This speaks volumes to the general incompetence of those doctors leading this effort.  Where is Redfield, the head of the CDC?  He is virtually never seen, and the CDC has dropped the ball big time.

[Applewood]

My local paper is in real trouble, with all the Casino adds pulled.  That said, I don't want gummint bailing them out.

Newspapers have been in trouble for a number of years now.  Their troubles did not start with this virus. 

The Pittsburgh Post Gazette, my local major newspaper, is gradually going all digital.   I believe it now only publishes a weekend print edition and maybe one or two papers during the week.   This is supposed to save the company money.  Don't know if it has or not, but if your local paper hasn't gone digital, maybe it should try.