December 8th, 2008 
joel Strong opinion from our poll last week which asked if local personalities on the radio were always better than a syndicated show, or did it really matter. Two thirds of the respondents said absolutely yes, local is always better than syndicated or national.
Since our country is having “bailout fever” I thought I’d ask the question whether a bailout is in order for the major mainstream media, specifically the newspaper industry. Just this morning it is being reported that the Tribune Co., publisher of the Chicago Tribune and LA Times is considering chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. I’m wondering if in this time of tight business credit and an incomplete transition from traditional media revenue streams to the new media online streams if a bridge loan is in order to help in the retooling of our newspapers. Newspapers and their deep staffs of informed, specialized reporters have a unique position in our culture that no other media has been able to match so far.
So I’m asking the question.
Should the government provide a loan bailout to major city newspapers?
- No, newspapers are no more valuable than any other media and we should let the market determine which media companies survive or not. (88%, 35 Votes)
- I don’t have an opinion either way. (10%, 4 Votes)
- Yes, newspapers have a vital role in our democracy and we can’t afford to lose them during this transition to online media. (2%, 1 Votes)
Total Voters: 40
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