The future of journalism panel was a frustrating affair. John Kerry, who chaired the hearings, was apparently unaware of how websites like Google and Yahoo aggregate news, and so was ill prepared to ask informed questions about how newspapers might make more money off their content.
His ignorance leads some to believe that he called the hearings to draw sympathy for the plight of New York Times owned Boston Globe. He was forced to address this notion at the hearing:
“Let me emphasize that this hearing is not, and was never intended to be, a hearing about Boston newspapers,” Kerry told a packed hearing of the Senate Commerce Committee’s subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet. “It’s about our nation’s newspapers.”
It would seem that there is a terrific conflict of interests here. Politicians are advertisers in these newspapers. They need each other, so don’t be surprised when President Obama swoops in and bails out the newspapers.
Of course, the government will take an 8% ownership stake in any paper that receives money. And once the government is a partner, they will dictate to the papers what they can write, just like they are doing with the auto industry.
With 8% ownership, and the press on your side, you can do almost anything.
I watched the hearing, and actually like watching Senate hearings. Clearly, Adam does not understand how Sen. Kerry questions witnesses. He was trying to get the Google rep. to go on record precisely how they earn their revenue. I would say Kerry is pretty tech savvy for a guy over 65. But fine, let people think he is ignorant and stupid about it to make themselves feel superior.
Oh, and there will be no bailout of the newspapers. Since I watched the hearing myself as I guess a “citizen journalist”, I saw how not one Senator wanted that. Nor did the panelists.
Let me see, here. John Kerry, who served in Vietnam, is from Massachusetts. And Boston is in Massachusetts.
Nah, I don’t a connection either.
Oh well. PRAVDA had its day, too. Let’s face it, people, the Horse and Buggy era of print newspapers is over. Drudge is the new Rolls Royce. Others, varying degrees of sportiness.
But the NYT and Globe both spit out the same Leftie garbage online under General Pinchy as they do in print. For however long that is. Not a good business model in an idea-driven marketplace. Better luck next time, Lurch.