© 2005 Associated Press (Photo by Mary Altaffer)

Papers Could Go Non-Profit
by Jennifer Brown



In an effort to curtail the decline of daily newspapers, Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Md., proposed a bill last month that would allow papers to become non-profits similar to broadcasting stations, according to firstamendmentcenter.org.

The bill, called the Newspaper Revitalization Act, could be a double-edged sword. The pluses of this bill would be that the advertising and subscription revenue papers bring in would be tax exempt, and that contributions supporting coverage could be tax deductible.

"We are losing our newspaper industry," Cardin said in a press statement. "The economy has caused an immediate problem, but the business model for newspapers, based on circulation and advertising revenue, is broken, and that is a real tragedy for communities across the nation and for our democracy."

The downside of this bill is that while papers would still be able to cover all issues including political campaigns, papers would not be able to make political endorsements.

Cardin says in the press release that this plan is more for the small local papers and not the powerhouse conglomerates. He also admits this may not be the perfect plan, but it could help keep the newspaper industry alive.

Question:

1. Would newspapers not being able to make political endorsements chill political speech and be a breach of First Amendment, which states “government… shall make no law that abridges the freedom of speech or press”?

2. Even if not allowing papers to endorse a political candidate chills political speech, if this is the only way to save newspapers, do you think the government has an argument to enforce their act? Would the government be able to trump freedom of the press in order to protect the industry, like they’re able to withhold information in times of extreme national security?