Via the Gateway Pundit.
Reuters is reporting that a bill has been introduced that would allow newspapers to become nonprofits. (LOL, they’re already nonprofits. -alan)
With many U.S. newspapers struggling to survive, a Democratic senator on Tuesday introduced a bill to help them by allowing newspaper companies to restructure as nonprofits with a variety of tax breaks.
“This may not be the optimal choice for some major newspapers or corporate media chains but it should be an option for many newspapers that are struggling to stay afloat,” said Senator Benjamin Cardin.
A Cardin spokesman said the bill had yet to attract any co-sponsors, but had sparked plenty of interest within the media, which has seen plunging revenues and many journalist layoffs.
Cardin’s Newspaper Revitalization Act would allow newspapers to operate as nonprofits for educational purposes under the U.S. tax code, giving them a similar status to public broadcasting companies.
Under this arrangement, newspapers would still be free to report on all issues, including political campaigns. But they would be prohibited from making political endorsements.
Right, as if they need to endorse someone to get them elected. Slanted news is FAR better than an actual endorsement. Even the ability to pick which stories get printed can make or break an election.
Advertising and subscription revenue would be tax exempt, and contributions to support news coverage or operations could be tax deductible.
Actually, the way the newspapers are bleeding, I don’t think nonprofit status would keep many afloat. Most newspapers haven’t made a profit in years.
But they were instrumental in getting Obama elected and the left still needs them.
“Ha, ha, my medium is dyyyying.”
I just hope Gannett doesn’t choose this option. I hope this bill doesn’t pass! Newspapers claim to be HUGE fighters of the First Amendment, and this would only stomp on it. I’d rather a paper go under than be a propaganda machine. (Which, most are still not, no matter how slanted they are…)