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FTC Explores The Possibility Of Controling Internet As A News Source



Dec 2, 2009 8 Comments ›› Erik Wong

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WASHINGTON (AP) – The federal government is wading into deliberations over the future of journalism as printed newspapers, television stations and other traditional media outlets suffer from Americans’ growing reliance on the Internet.

With the media business in a state of economic distress as audiences and advertisers migrate online, the Federal Trade Commission began a two-day workshop Tuesday to examine the profound challenges facing media companies and explore ways the government can help them survive.

Media executives taking part are looking for a new business model for an industry that is watching traditional advertising revenue dry up, without online revenue growing quickly enough to replace it. Government officials want to protect a critical pillar of democracy—a free press.

“News is a public good,” FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz said. “We should be willing to take action if necessary to preserve the news that is vital to democracy.”

The workshop is drawing speakers from both traditional and new media, including Rupert Murdoch, chairman and chief executive of News Corp.; Arianna Huffington, co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post Web site; and Len Downie, former executive editor of The Washington Post.

Executives from Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc. were also scheduled to participate, as were several government officials, including Henry Waxman, D-Calif., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Among the options being discussed: tax law changes that would allow media companies to earn tax credits or become tax-exempt entities, and copyright law changes that would force search engines and other online aggregrators to compensate media companies for the content they produce.

Also on the table is a proposed change in antitrust rules to allow newspapers to jointly negotiate payments from Web sites that use their content.

The FTC is planning more workshops in the spring to discuss in greater depth the ideas that emerge this week.

Congress has also tried to tackle questions about the future of the media business, particularly print journalism. Last spring, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., held a hearing on the financial troubles facing the newspaper industry. And Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Md., has introduced a bill that would allow newspapers to restructure as non-profits.


  • mike3481

    Wow, the internet plans they’ve got are going to piss-off everyone on earth with a computer.

    Only a U.S. Democrat Party Politician could do that.

  • josephus

    These people will go to any length to control message and to stay in power.

    Let this be a forewarning.
    As things get rockier and it gets closer to 2010, the clamps are gonna get tighter. And they need to stop this runaway freight train of internet and conservative talk radio before the 2010 elections.

    As they scratch and claw to cling onto their fleeting and soon to be diminished power, they are going to pull out all the stops.

    ACCEPT NONE OF THEIR BULLSHIT.

  • bill-tb

    Yes that free speech is very damaging to our dear reader.

  • Randy

    Hmm. Has the Pay Czar checked out the salaries of the network talking heads?

    Is the New York Crimes to big to fail?

    Funny, what happens to all that fucking political revenue withi all the commercials running six months before an election.

    I’m fairly certain, as well, that all radio and TV stations have a political rate, set by law. It’s the lowest possible rate.

    If the criminals in congress are looking for a new media model that works, try Fox. The networks and newspapers ought to consider their content as a primary reason people are looking elsewhere.

  • Sully

    Barry is doing what any affirmative action college grad would do to win a debate.
    Cheat.

  • punisher55

    According to the torah codes things will get much worse starting in 2010. Google torah codes and do some reading. Read about the man of change!

  • Tellicorick

    Go right ahead you worthless bags of shit – go ahead and start stifling free speech and let everyone know you are about Marxism and total control. And when you come for the guns; don’t be surprised at the response. You worthless cock suckers!

  • Tellicorick

    Here’s the email I posted up on Durbin’s, Specter’s and Feinstein’s “Contact Me” place on their website.

    I see where you and Senators Feinstein and Durbin are all sponsoring a bill loosely titled “New Press Shield Law” which we Americans consider a direct attack on the 1st Amendment denying free speech to the average American and only allowing free speech for “Government Approved Journalists”. Sir, you are sponsoring Communism with this action. This is the same as the former Soviet Union with its government-run newspaper, Pravda.

    I find this completely disgusting and this is a direct attack by you Washington elites on our freedoms. Even though I’m not from your state, I’m going to contribute campaign contributions to your opponent in an effort to un-seat you from Congress in order to prevent you from doing any further damage to our fragile country. And I‘m going to “broadcast” this message as much as I can to ensure you no longer represent “your constituents”, or any American for that matter.

    This behavior is truly disgusting and you should know better.

    My Real Name
    LTC, USA (ret)

    I encourage everyone of you to email or contact these Communists and speak your mind. If you don’t you may not have this “Right” any more.