Comments on: Could strategic bankruptcies be needed to transform newspapers? http://www.niemanlab.org/2009/06/could-strategic-bankruptcies-be-needed-to-transform-us-newspaper-enterprises/ A collaborative effort to figure out the future of journalism. A project of Harvard University. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 17:39:00 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tuesday Reads: Bankruptcies, AOL and Conversations « Reinventing the Newsroom http://www.niemanlab.org/2009/06/could-strategic-bankruptcies-be-needed-to-transform-us-newspaper-enterprises/comment-page-1/#comment-21043 Tuesday Reads: Bankruptcies, AOL and Conversations « Reinventing the Newsroom Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:43:45 +0000 http://www.niemanlab.org/?p=6358#comment-21043 [...] Nieman Journalism Lab, Martin Langeveld goes on an interesting journey in response to a question: If he were starting a news organization, what would he focus on first? [...] [...] Nieman Journalism Lab, Martin Langeveld goes on an interesting journey in response to a question: If he were starting a news organization, what would he focus on first? [...]

]]> By: Gina Chen http://www.niemanlab.org/2009/06/could-strategic-bankruptcies-be-needed-to-transform-us-newspaper-enterprises/comment-page-1/#comment-20947 Gina Chen Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:22:24 +0000 http://www.niemanlab.org/?p=6358#comment-20947 Leaving aside the financial "benefits" that you explain of a bankruptcy ... I wonder if even in non-financial terms in some ways it's easier to start from scratch then to rethink. I liken it to a home renovation. Gutting the kitchen is often the way to go -- rather than just changing first the floors then the cabinets, then adding a granite countertop and new lighting. I think it's difficult to truly imagine the possibilities of the future when you have the past in the back of your mind. Leaving aside the financial “benefits” that you explain of a bankruptcy … I wonder if even in non-financial terms in some ways it’s easier to start from scratch then to rethink. I liken it to a home renovation. Gutting the kitchen is often the way to go — rather than just changing first the floors then the cabinets, then adding a granite countertop and new lighting.

I think it’s difficult to truly imagine the possibilities of the future when you have the past in the back of your mind.

]]> By: Josh Stearns http://www.niemanlab.org/2009/06/could-strategic-bankruptcies-be-needed-to-transform-us-newspaper-enterprises/comment-page-1/#comment-20911 Josh Stearns Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:37:06 +0000 http://www.niemanlab.org/?p=6358#comment-20911 Martin, thanks for raising this issue. It is something we have been mulling over as well here at Free Press as we have been exploring possible public policy options to help save and reshape the future of news. In our new report "Saving the News: Toward a National Journalism Strategy," (http://www.freepress.net/files/saving_the_news.pdf)we examine prepackaged bankruptcies as one of a range of short- and long-term strategies. We think this could be especially useful in shifting ownership models away from media conglomerates, and encouraging the establishment of nonprofit and low-profit news organizations through tax-exempt and low-profit limited liability company (L3C) models. The report details some of the considerations we might need to look at, and some of the policy changes this option might demand. I would love to hear people's feedback @ jstearns (at) freepress (dot) net. Martin, thanks for raising this issue. It is something we have been mulling over as well here at Free Press as we have been exploring possible public policy options to help save and reshape the future of news. In our new report “Saving the News: Toward a National Journalism Strategy,” (http://www.freepress.net/files/saving_the_news.pdf)we examine prepackaged bankruptcies as one of a range of short- and long-term strategies. We think this could be especially useful in shifting ownership models away from media conglomerates, and encouraging the establishment of nonprofit and low-profit news organizations through tax-exempt and low-profit limited liability company (L3C) models. The report details some of the considerations we might need to look at, and some of the policy changes this option might demand. I would love to hear people’s feedback @ jstearns (at) freepress (dot) net.

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