Cailin Brown on Newspapers |
This is an interview by OurBlook with Cailin Brown, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Communications, The College of Saint Rose, Albany ,N.Y.
 What do you think of the idea being bandied about that governments as a last resort should bail out failing newspapers?
CB: Newspapers need to find answers that do not include relying on the government for a bailout. That being said, some would argue that the growing bankruptcy claims in the field indicate that indeed the industry is now looking to the government for solutions . in these instances, through the courts.
In the event governments decide to do it, should they attach conditions as is being done for other bailout loans and grants or should it be a blank check?
CB: Government conditions on the press are not a productive answer. If the federal government opted to include loans to the media in a bailout plan, the issue of prior restraint could become problematic. How would the industry report about the deals? Would all of the information get included, would some get left out because of the proprietary nature of the industry? Newspapers and other industries may have some similar salary structures when it comes to corporate executives, but most of the industry is not paying the same kinds of exorbitant salaries to as many individuals as those industries now under public scrutiny.
Philanthropic groups also are being mentioned as a possible savior for newspapers. What do you think of that as a possibility?
CB: So many groups have stepped up to underwrite inventive and entrepreneurial efforts by mainstream media and by the more recent online outlets that it does seem the industry could benefit more from philanthropic support than from public funding.
You previously were a reporter with the Times-Union in Albany. From your first-hand knowledge, is that paper going to survive or go out of business? What kind of experience was it for you to work there?
CB: The Times Union continues to produce groundbreaking investigative stories that are at the heart of what journalism does best. I am not privy to the books at the Times Union but from what I read each day, I see a newspaper working to deliver its product while trying to come to terms with the fracturing of its advertising base. The paper just recently announced a consortium agreement with other news outlets to deliver news with reports from downstate and New Jersey papers. I imagine sports fans would see the benefit of this decision, and perhaps downstaters interested in statehouse news could find satisfaction from such an arrangement. Working at the Times Union was a joy and a challenge. I had the good fortune to cover most every beat at the paper, from business news to crime to human interest and much in between. The newspaper has a lot of territory to cover and I think it has always struggled with trying to meet the demands of so many audiences. Still I think they will come up with a formula to both survive and prosper.
From your years of experience in journalism and teaching it, is there anything newspapers can do that they're not doing to improve their chances of surviving?
CB: Newspapers must continue to pay close attention to government and business. We know what happens when they don't. If newspapers can continue to produce content that is not only informative, but transformative, then the public should seek out the information newspapers offer. But that leaves much to the public. Whether the public will be willing to eventually pay for content remains to be seen. Experiments have been tried, failed, and in some instances have succeeded. Newspapers need to reach out to their communities. Not once in a while, all the time. This type of marketing needs to be incorporated into the business plan.
With the prospect now that many newspapers across America are on the brink of bankruptcy, what do you think the effect will be on our society if they don't make it?
CB: If newspapers ceased, democracy would be endangered. An ill-informed public would be less educated on issues that matter. And those inclined to take what they do not deserve would likely take more.
Trackback(0)
 |
TrackBack URI for this entry
