We all wondered if it would happen. NB readers said it would very soon. NB author Tom Blumer even predicted this would be the year for it. Now the largest newspaper in Philadelphia is requesting a bailout.
In a perfectly ironic fashion it took a lawsuit for the public to learn that the Philadelphia Inquirer is seeking $10 million dollars from the state of Pennsylvania. The bailout request was revealed after the school filed suit against the paper for a series of articles questioning the school’s use of government funds.
Now, according to an interview between the Philadelphia Bulletin and Pennsylvania Governor Democrat Ed Rendell's press secretary, there is little doubt that the Philadelphia Inquirer is indeed requesting a $10 million bailout. The request comes at a time of great financial trouble for the owner of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Media Holdings. The company has been missing its debt payments since June and is in "technical default" according to the Bulletin.
Here's what Chuck Ardo, Rendell's press secretary, had to say about the proposed bailout:
The Bulletin: It has been reported that Inquirer publisher Brian Tierney has approached Gov. Rendell for a $10 million bailout for the newspaper.
Did that conversation take place?
Chuck Ardo: The governor and Brian Tierney have had a number of conversations over the course of the last several months. The governor has made no commitment as a result of those conversations.
TB: Is the bailout something that is still on the table?
CA: He would certainly be open to discussions with Brian, but we need to look at the situation that we are in economically and financially, and I think any discussions have to be seen through that prism.
Judging from that exchange it seems quite likely that this newspaper bailout will become reality. The fact that Chuck Ardo confirmed that the governor could grant the bailout without consent from the legislature leaves little chance that the Inquirer won't get the $10 million it wants, especially considering the Democrat governor was quick to bailout retail chain Boscovs:
TB: Would that require legislative approval, or would it come from the executive branch?
CA: There are ways that the executive branch can do this without need for legislative action.
Of course while this would be the largest newspaper bailout yet and the first where cash went directly from the government to the paper it isn't the first time newspapers have wanted help from the state. Tom Blumer's article that I alluded to earlier chronicles the efforts of Connecticut newspapers to procure themselves a bailout. But this potential government bailout of the very entity charged as its watchdog raises still some very obvious and very serious questions:
TB: It’s one thing when the government becomes involved in car companies and banks, but how do you think the public would react to a media company seeking and receiving government bailout money from Gov. Rendell? Can it truly be viewed as objective and unbiased in its political reporting?
CA: The entire concept of a democracy depends on an informed public. Newspapers are a critical source of information, so there is a fundamental need for newspapers to continue to provide that information to the public. Now whether that information rises to the level of triggering help from the commonwealth, is something we’ll have to wait for the future to unfold.
I don't know about you but it didn't seem to me that Mr. Ardo answered the Bulletin's question. I mean, sure, people need to be informed in a democracy but they also need to be fully informed. And if the government is paying your salary can you truly remain objective in your coverage of that government? How can a media company who has to worry about obtaining government money to stay afloat be nearly as critical as one who doesn't? And if the media outlet is providing subjective and biased information as a result of a bailout how much better is that than if it were providing no information at all?
Take the editorial in today's Inquirer that calls for frugal spending and keen oversight of the federal bailouts for example. The piece rails against "earmarking funds for dubious pet projects" as well as prodding the federal government to "ensure that the taxpayers get the best bang for their bailout bucks". Will the Inquirer be equally inclined to question the frugality, intelligence, and legitimacy behind Pennsylvania's bailouts now that it is next in line to receive one?
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
No f'ing way
January 28, 2009 - 16:26 ET by Lord ErondThere will be an armed insurrection if our government bails out these liberal mouth organ distortionists. They deserve to go out of business.
These MSMWHORES MAKE ME PUKE WITH THE GALL THEY HAVE TO ASK THIS LIBERAL GARBAGE TO BE SUBSIDIZED.
"What you can not enforce, do not command" -Sophocles-
This is wrong in so many
January 28, 2009 - 16:30 ET by kgThis is wrong in so many ways.
"Forget change, I want improvement!"
NO, NO, NO, NO... A
January 28, 2009 - 16:32 ET by rimskyNO, NO, NO, NO... A THOUSAND TIMES NO!!!!
Infuriating. No way to
January 28, 2009 - 16:33 ET by bigtimerInfuriating.
No way to stop this either.
We all know will be jumping on the leftist gravy train...now we conservative tax-payers are also going to be paying for another enemy within.
I see nowhere that this is going to end anytime soon in the near future.
Exasperating.
This is never going to
January 28, 2009 - 16:34 ET by oldArmyThis is never going to end......
papers in the burbs
January 28, 2009 - 16:35 ET by JeffC...I used to live in the NJ burbs and read the Courier Post and Burlington County Times. How are they doing financially?
→ Hail the hypocrites
January 28, 2009 - 16:42 ET by Cool ArrowThe Enquirer accuses a school of going after Government money; all the while grabbing for money under the table so as to maintain the appearance of being unbeholden.
Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country - Khalil Gibran
Turn off the presses and dump the printer's ink.
January 28, 2009 - 17:16 ET by CKA in Red State USAGoodbye.
Here's a letter II e-mailed to Governor Rendell
January 28, 2009 - 17:40 ET by Lord ErondDear Governor Rendell,
I used to be a resident of the state of Pennsylvania and although I no longer reside in Pennsylvania, the recent revelations that the Philadelphia Inquirer is asking for bailout funds goes beyond the pale.
As you may or may not believe, our recent Presidential election has been tainted, in my opinion by the dark cloud of severe media bias in favor of President Barack Obama. That being said, we are certainly resolved as citizens to do our best and live under his administration for the next 4 years.
For any state or federal government to be using taxpayer funds to support these newspapers and/or their corporations is absurd. There is a reason that publications like the Philadelphia Inquirer are going broke. It is because everyday, average Americans believe that they have been ill-served by such publications such as the NY Times, Boston Globe, LA Times, Chicago Tribune, etc. Many Americans hold the conventional opinion that these publications have been "in the tank" so to speak for not just President Obama but the liberal democrat view in general.
Americans hold very little cohesive power in general. However it is our right to not purchase or boycott products that we feel are harmful to America and conservative values and ideals. While I'm sure that most of your advisors would claim that they are hurting "just because of the economy", I believe that it is the rejection of these periodicals by Americans that is causing them to suffer a decline in revenue.
In addition to the recent confirmation of a known tax cheat to the head of the IRS, this bailout would set a dangerous precedent that any of these publications could receive either state or federal monies to continue in the fashion that they have done when in fact they should be going out of business for failing in their 'media watchdog' capacity. The American public has little faith already that their government will do what's in their best interest. By allowing this to happen, you set up the appearance that these publications will be no different from the Soviet run Pravda, or Xinhua or Tass 'media' organizations.
I sincerely hope that you have the courage and the fortitude to do what's in the best interest of the citizens of Pennsylvania and reject this 10 million dollar bailout request by the Philadelphia inquirer.
Respectfully,
Lord Erond (I didn't send this, I sent my real name...)
"What you can not enforce, do not command" -Sophocles-
Well said...
January 29, 2009 - 09:55 ET by wyogatorYou did a great job of hitting all the salient points.
I spent 22 years in the newspaper business on the revenue side (advertising sales management) and I can affirm that the news culture fosters a very liberal point of view. Many of them actually believe they are offsetting their personal points of view and being objective when the reality is that they are so far off the edge that their idea of objectivity is when they move to a moderate liberal leaning in their reporting.
Historically acknowledged as the "4th Estate," it is a very bad idea for media, especially newspapers which remain free of FCC and even some McCain/Feingold restrictions, to be entangled financially with the governments they are called to monitor.
But from Rendell's point of view, it's a great investment and a no-brainer for him.
Learn about my daughter's Ugandan home for orphans with AIDS at
www.africaourownhome.org
I think that a down turn in
January 28, 2009 - 17:56 ET by ForeverOnTheRightI think that a down turn in the economy the weak do not survive and the strong come through it. To put it in terms that liberal evolutionists would understand, it's the survival of the fittest. Let the market decide. If papers go under it may well be that they are the dinosaur that is going extinct more people I am sure are getting their news form the net not the newspaper. The net offers so much more variety and we can make the choice and not have to settle for the only local papers that are there.
But how else will us proles
January 28, 2009 - 18:03 ET by Trix RabbitBut how else will us proles and plebes get painfully unfunny comics like "For better or worse" or "Rose is Rose" if not from the newspaper?
For the MSM: In your pomp and all your glory, you're a poorer man than me. As you lick the boots of death born out of fear.
Ian Anderson "Wind up"
Name That Party
January 28, 2009 - 19:27 ET by AvusHow ironic that you not only failed to mention that "Fast Eddie" Rendell is a Democrat, but that he is the former head of the DNC. With the Inquirer and Daily News always firmly in the left and unfailingly endorsing any and all Dems (including Eddie himself), no wonder the Gov is bailing them out.
The good news is that the Inky and Daily Phews couldn't get any more biased anyway so the $10M probably won't have any effect on their "journalism".
good point
January 28, 2009 - 19:36 ET by Stephen GutowskiI went back through and while the story wasn't about Dem gov Rendell I still decided to add his party id (which I forgot because I'm from PA and Rendell is synonymous with Dem here, stupid mistake I know) and a little tid bit about his bailout madness.
Thanks for pointing that out
Chuck Ardo:
January 28, 2009 - 22:12 ET by JPR1"The entire concept of a democracy depends on an informed public."...
...and we think when the government has it's hooks in the press we will have significant control over the information.
Oops, did I say that. Nevermind.
This is ludicrous. The people of Pennsylvania should be livid.
Wow, these flaming hypocrites deserve to go under
January 28, 2009 - 22:28 ET by R D HelmNO MORE BAILOUTS!
Unless it is mine. :-^)
-Dave
Our clueless political leaders are about to drive us all over a cliff. The time to HITM is now-before we go over.
Fast Eddie gets ready to pull......
January 29, 2009 - 05:02 ET by old croanother fast one on the citizens of this woefully democrat guided state. (Basically Pittsburgh and Philly) Last week I read where he hired a crony for some make work project (wildlife overseer or something) at 92K a year even though he has imposed a freeze on hiring. He has been scamming the state since elected gov, scamming the country prior (Gore 2000) and scamming Philly (ex-mayor) all his life, but he idiot dems still vote for him, mostly because of the backing from this trashpaper. Maybe he could get Donovan McNabb to come in and save the paper.
Go Steelers