Aid to publishers will be politicized

“Populist alt-right and activist left-wing publications will use the tax credit as a cudgel to hammer reporters and editors for being in the pocket of the Biden administration.”

Normally when I write these annual predictions, I stick my index finger in the air to guess which way the wind is blowing. But this year, I can actually see the future — because I’m already living it.

Some context: Following in the footsteps of its Canadian brethren, the U.S. government may soon issue a labor tax credit for journalists as part of the Build Back Better bill that passed the House in November.

According to The New York Times’ Marc Tracy:

If the $2.2 trillion social safety net and climate package makes it through the Senate, it will provide $1.67 billion over the next five years for newspapers, websites, radio and TV stations, and other outlets that primarily cover local news.

You can argue about the importance of this program to publishers seeking a lifeline. But what can’t be argued is that any government aid to publishers will be politicized. This risks further eroding trust in traditional media and needs to be considered before any legislation is passed.

Republican opponents of the bill will chew on the “journalism bailout” as red meat for a base that already distrusts traditional media.

Populist alt-right and activist left-wing publications will use the tax credit as a cudgel to hammer reporters and editors for being in the pocket of the Biden administration. And conveniently, it’ll be a great fundraising opportunity for their own “independent” news outlets.

Companies on the receiving end of the subsidies will howl into the wind, “Journalistic independence!” Only to be drowned out anytime the #Bidenbloviators, #Bidensbeat, and #Bidensbroadcasters hashtags trend when a story is viewed unfavorably by the competing base.

My own views on this form of government assistance for journalism aren’t relevant in this prediction, although you can read what I wrote at the time about the Canadian government’s approach here and here. But know that this is all already happening north of the border.

David Skok is the CEO and editor-in-chief of The Logic.

Normally when I write these annual predictions, I stick my index finger in the air to guess which way the wind is blowing. But this year, I can actually see the future — because I’m already living it.

Some context: Following in the footsteps of its Canadian brethren, the U.S. government may soon issue a labor tax credit for journalists as part of the Build Back Better bill that passed the House in November.

According to The New York Times’ Marc Tracy:

If the $2.2 trillion social safety net and climate package makes it through the Senate, it will provide $1.67 billion over the next five years for newspapers, websites, radio and TV stations, and other outlets that primarily cover local news.

You can argue about the importance of this program to publishers seeking a lifeline. But what can’t be argued is that any government aid to publishers will be politicized. This risks further eroding trust in traditional media and needs to be considered before any legislation is passed.

Republican opponents of the bill will chew on the “journalism bailout” as red meat for a base that already distrusts traditional media.

Populist alt-right and activist left-wing publications will use the tax credit as a cudgel to hammer reporters and editors for being in the pocket of the Biden administration. And conveniently, it’ll be a great fundraising opportunity for their own “independent” news outlets.

Companies on the receiving end of the subsidies will howl into the wind, “Journalistic independence!” Only to be drowned out anytime the #Bidenbloviators, #Bidensbeat, and #Bidensbroadcasters hashtags trend when a story is viewed unfavorably by the competing base.

My own views on this form of government assistance for journalism aren’t relevant in this prediction, although you can read what I wrote at the time about the Canadian government’s approach here and here. But know that this is all already happening north of the border.

David Skok is the CEO and editor-in-chief of The Logic.

James Green

Sarah Stonbely

A.J. Bauer

Julia Munslow

S. Mitra Kalita

Jody Brannon

Gabe Schneider

Eric Nuzum

An Xiao Mina

Simon Allison

Mandy Jenkins

Joanne McNeil

Catalina Albeanu

Jonas Kaiser

Zizi Papacharissi

David Skok

Ariel Zirulnick

Joe Amditis

Julia Angwin

Cherian George

Joy Mayer

Victor Pickard

Matthew Pressman

Anita Varma

Doris Truong

Jennifer Coogan

Shannon McGregor & Carolyn Schmitt

Errin Haines

Meena Thiruvengadam

Don Day

Kristen Jeffers

Sam Guzik

Cindy Royal

Matt DeRienzo

Jennifer Brandel

Rachel Glickhouse

Amara Aguilar

Alice Antheaume

Kerri Hoffman

Parker Molloy

Simon Galperin

Natalia Viana

Jesse Holcomb

Laxmi Parthasarathy

Brian Moritz

Juleyka Lantigua

John Davidow

Anika Anand

j. Siguru Wahutu

Jessica Clark

Mario García

Kristen Muller

Larry Ryckman

Candace Amos

Michael W. Wagner

Rasmus Kleis Nielsen

Daniel Eilemberg

Janelle Salanga

Moreno Cruz Osório

Joni Deutsch

Wilson Liévano

Cristina Tardáguila

Chicas Poderosas

Christoph Mergerson

David Cohn

Megan McCarthy

Millie Tran

Tamar Charney

Anthony Nadler

Robert Hernandez

Gonzalo del Peon

Amy Schmitz Weiss

Whitney Phillips

Matt Karolian

Kathleen Searles & Rebekah Trumble

Stephen Fowler

Melody Kramer

Francesco Zaffarano

Stefanie Murray

Burt Herman

Christina Shih

Mike Rispoli

Raney Aronson-Rath

Tom Trewinnard

Sarah Marshall

Nikki Usher

Joshua P. Darr

Izabella Kaminska

Gordon Crovitz

Kendra Pierre-Louis

Tony Baranowski

Ståle Grut

Mary Walter-Brown

Jim Friedlich

Chase Davis

Andrew Freedman

Richard Tofel

Shalabh Upadhyay

Jesenia De Moya Correa

Paul Cheung