A bad idea on multiple fronts. First, it puts newspapers claiming 501(c)(3) status potentially under the thumb of government, which can investigate newspapers and revoke their tax exemption for being too “political.” Just recall the recent investigation of All Saints Pasadena. Second, the 501(c)(3) exemption was created to encourage charity, not to turn unprofitable businesses into profitable ones. Indeed, many newspaper have 0 income after deductions, so there is nothing to tax anyway. Finally, why newspapers? Why not other suffering businesses, like auto parts producers? Maybe Cardin, a Democrat, wants to pay back the media for their fawning obsequiousness in covering Obama during the last campaign. The GOP should rightfully tear into this proposal assuming it gets far.
Perhaps it is time for the technologically-challenged to face the reality of the times and see newspapers as softwood tree-wasting, water-polluting, and toxic ink-leaching communication media that are rapidly becoming economically unsustainable because most curious people are checking out news and commentary of all kinds on the Internet, not to mention simply listen to the radio. Classified and help wanted ads and even grocery store coupons are available on the ‘Net these days. It is time to say goodbye to the idea that any major metropolitan newspaper is still a genuinely “leading voice” in its city. The last papers to go will be the free weeklies and monthlies, which will also be the last papers in which to see the faces of adults and children you recognize, photographed for their service, sports, and academic achievements.
i for one will miss the sunday paper. i like to read the style pages and business pages and the op ed pages and of course the advice columns with the coupons and the parade mag. i am not sure but i think the houston paper uses recycled paper and most if not all newspapers now use soy ink which is not toxic. it is difficult to read an indepth investigative story online. yah, i would support tax exempt status within limits. i don’t agree that good quality independent news reporting should be a profit making venture.
Steps to transform a working democratic nation into a banana republic:
1. Create a cult of personality around the leader.
2. Nationalize the financial structure of the country.
3. Impose censorship.
Voila! A brand new Banana Republic is born staffed with a President for Life. (Constitution? Constitution? We don’t need no steenkin’ constitution!)
#10 Bart I believe I detect your message regarding NPR.
NPR Non-partisan – No way. Yes I have listened to radio and watched TV in the past and I just stopped. It’s more enlightening to read the newspaper where I can study the words and make a decision. USA Today and the local newspaper gives you some kind of choice.
regarding NPR they definitely lean liberal on social issues but i hear opinions given by the cato institute quite often on there, this morning in fact, and that org values money above all else, so it is probably more non partisan than a lot of media.
As a news junkey of the highest order, I think that not-for-profit news is a likely trend. While the number of news sources has been growing, the number of news gatherers has been declining dramatically. We are also seeing a declining trend in the ability of physical publications (CDs, News Papers, DVDs) to support the cost of producing content.
I agree with those who find NFP status for institutions that put ink on paper dubious, but I see great public benefit in the gathering, editing and disseminating of news — particularly regional and local news. I would vigorously support tax-exempt status for organizations that provide this service to their communities.
A bad idea on multiple fronts. First, it puts newspapers claiming 501(c)(3) status potentially under the thumb of government, which can investigate newspapers and revoke their tax exemption for being too “political.” Just recall the recent investigation of All Saints Pasadena. Second, the 501(c)(3) exemption was created to encourage charity, not to turn unprofitable businesses into profitable ones. Indeed, many newspaper have 0 income after deductions, so there is nothing to tax anyway. Finally, why newspapers? Why not other suffering businesses, like auto parts producers? Maybe Cardin, a Democrat, wants to pay back the media for their fawning obsequiousness in covering Obama during the last campaign. The GOP should rightfully tear into this proposal assuming it gets far.
Corporate taxes are a stupid idea all around. How about instead we just abolish that tax for all US corporations?
If newspapers, then why not all media?
Don
Perhaps it is time for the technologically-challenged to face the reality of the times and see newspapers as softwood tree-wasting, water-polluting, and toxic ink-leaching communication media that are rapidly becoming economically unsustainable because most curious people are checking out news and commentary of all kinds on the Internet, not to mention simply listen to the radio. Classified and help wanted ads and even grocery store coupons are available on the ‘Net these days. It is time to say goodbye to the idea that any major metropolitan newspaper is still a genuinely “leading voice” in its city. The last papers to go will be the free weeklies and monthlies, which will also be the last papers in which to see the faces of adults and children you recognize, photographed for their service, sports, and academic achievements.
i for one will miss the sunday paper. i like to read the style pages and business pages and the op ed pages and of course the advice columns with the coupons and the parade mag. i am not sure but i think the houston paper uses recycled paper and most if not all newspapers now use soy ink which is not toxic. it is difficult to read an indepth investigative story online. yah, i would support tax exempt status within limits. i don’t agree that good quality independent news reporting should be a profit making venture.
Steps to transform a working democratic nation into a banana republic:
1. Create a cult of personality around the leader.
2. Nationalize the financial structure of the country.
3. Impose censorship.
Voila! A brand new Banana Republic is born staffed with a President for Life. (Constitution? Constitution? We don’t need no steenkin’ constitution!)
Most papers are already non-profit. Only not by choice. 🙂
6, don’t forget the missing birth certificate.
Here’s a Senator who knows how to buy the support of the newspaper industry on the cheap.
Yeah … and they’ll be completely non-partisan — like NPR.
#10 Bart I believe I detect your message regarding NPR.
NPR Non-partisan – No way. Yes I have listened to radio and watched TV in the past and I just stopped. It’s more enlightening to read the newspaper where I can study the words and make a decision. USA Today and the local newspaper gives you some kind of choice.
regarding NPR they definitely lean liberal on social issues but i hear opinions given by the cato institute quite often on there, this morning in fact, and that org values money above all else, so it is probably more non partisan than a lot of media.
As a news junkey of the highest order, I think that not-for-profit news is a likely trend. While the number of news sources has been growing, the number of news gatherers has been declining dramatically. We are also seeing a declining trend in the ability of physical publications (CDs, News Papers, DVDs) to support the cost of producing content.
I agree with those who find NFP status for institutions that put ink on paper dubious, but I see great public benefit in the gathering, editing and disseminating of news — particularly regional and local news. I would vigorously support tax-exempt status for organizations that provide this service to their communities.