A new report on the role of government in supporting newspapers and other news organizations will be released by the University of Southern California’s Center on Communication Leadership & Policy on Thursday, January 28, 2010. That same day, a press briefing will be held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. at 9:30 a.m.
The report, Public Policy and Funding the News, is co-authored by Geoffrey Cowan (pictured, left), USC Annenberg School dean emeritus and director of the Center on Communication Leadership & Policy (CCLP), and David Westphal, former Washington Editor for McClatchy Newspapers and current CCLP senior fellow and USC Annenberg executive-in-residence.
The report examines a common myth: that the commercial press in the United States is independent of governmental funding support.
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According to the authors, “There has never been a time in U.S. history when government dollars were not propping up the news business. This year, federal, state and local governments will spend well over $1 billion to support commercial news publishers through tax breaks, postal subsidies and the printing of public notices.” Issues to be discussed include:
- The impact of falling government subsidies on the news business today
- A framework to consider various legislative and regulatory proposals to support news and information
- Public broadcasting support, including international broadcasting initiatives
- Antitrust regulations and intellectual property statutes
- Publication requirements for public notices
- Tax policies
- Postal rates and regulations
- Subsidies to expand broadband service
EVENT: Briefing on Government’s role in supporting news organizations. Release of report: Public Policy and Funding the News
LOCATION: National Press Club, Holeman Lounge
DATE: Thursday, January 28, 2010
TIME: 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Briefing and continental breakfast
PRESENTERS: Geoffrey Cowan, director, USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership & Policy
David Westphal, senior fellow, USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership & Polic
SPONSORS: Center on Communication Leadership & Policy
Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Calif.
This project is made possible in part by a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York. The statements made and views expressed are solely the responsibility of the authors.
EMBARGOED MATERIALS: For a copy of advanced embargoed materials, please contact Carrie Collins at 301-664-9000 x18; ccollins@bcc-associates.com or Amelie Hopkins at 301-664-9000 x10; ahopkins@bcc-associates.com.