Despite revenue losses, newspapers shouldn’t be gov’t subsidized

During the COVID-19 pandemic, print newspaper readership drastically declined. Now, newspapers earn significantly less digital advertising revenue and are ever-vulnerable to shuttering. Nonetheless, says Joel Fox of Fox & Hounds Daily, these businesses should not be given government funding to maintain services, lest we jeopardize journalistic integrity.

Newspapers vulnerability at this time raises a question: Should government step in to save this core function of American democracy just as government has offered aid to other large and small businesses damaged by the Covid-19 situation? Newspapers are businesses.

Yet, offering government grants to news organizations would upset the proper balance of newspapers’ role in society.  Journalists relying on government money will find it more difficult to question those in power. 

There may be other ways for government to assist newspapers as businesses. If the business side of newspapers are taxed, they could receive tax credits.

Government must not abridge the press, neither should it pay for it. That means it is up to those who rely on and consume the news—so necessary all the time not just at times like these—to help keep newspapers afloat.

This article originally appeared in Fox & Hounds Daily. Read the whole thing here.

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