Newspaper Revitalization Act ignores consumers

A bill has recently been introduced by Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md) called the Newspaper Revitalization Act proposing that newspapers be allowed to operate as nonprofits and qualify for tax breaks and subsidies. This bill is in response to a wave of arguments, mostly by politicians, that it would be bad for democracy in America if newspapers go out of business. There are a couple points that I would like to suggest regarding this issue. A newspaper that is functioning as a not-for profit organization and reliant on subsidies is not going to act as a true watchdog to the people and entities that have control over their subsidies and tax breaks. Therefore the Newspaper Revitalization Act does not help safeguard American Democracy but it actually hurts it. Additionally, propping up failing newspapers just to keep them operating is ignoring the needs of the consumers. The fact is that consumers prefer to get their news electronically. This is the reality of the market. With this knowledge, it is up to the newspapers to adapt to consumers needs. I am amazed that many people seem incapable of separating content from the delivery mechanism. The fact is that major newspapers have access to the most talented writers, photographers, and editors in the world. If they can’t deliver that content to consumers in a way that consumers want, they deserve to go out of business. Additionally, the open access to news, comments, and content that the internet provides is good for democracy, good for business, and provides a world of opportunities for talented content providers.