Senator Proposes Nonprofit Status For Newspapers

The AP is reporting that a senator has introduced legislation that would allow struggling newspapers to operate as nonprofits, similar to the way public broadcasting works. "[Sen. Benjamin] Cardin [D-Md.] introduced a bill that would allow newspapers to choose tax-exempt status. They would no longer be able to make political endorsements, but could report on all issues including political campaigns. Advertising and subscription revenue would be tax-exempt, and contributions to support coverage could be tax deductible. Cardin said in a statement that the bill is aimed at preserving local newspapers, not large newspaper conglomerates. ... The head of the newspaper industry's trade group called the bill a positive step."

Comments

Re:BS

[BitZtream]

the blogosphere would have precious little to do.

And that my friends, is why I'm all for letting the newspapers die. Ignore the fact that they are unwilling to adapt to the world around them and that their death is just an example of evolution at work. Nevermind the fact that everything happening to newspapers is being done to themselves, just like the record, movie and television industries.

The 'blogosphere' is a joke. A bunch of needy/clingy people who need some reason to feel their life isn't pointless by reposting and commenting on what someone else wrote on their blog. Even freaking newspapers are letting their reporters 'blog'. Blogs are worthless. They are just ramblings of peoples thoughts, rarely are they even coherent thoughts.

So if the death of newspapers in their current form means that blogs will die, I for one am going to propose a law to congress banning newspapers.

No one cared what you thought before you had a blog, no one cares what you think now that you have a blog. The only people reading your blog are people trying to get you to link to their blog/myspace/facebook page so they can be more popular compared to the other 'friends' they are competing with.

And yes, this post falls into the category of ramblings that no one cares about.