Editorial: Democrats support journalism?

Jon Johnson File Photo/Gila Herald

Column By Mike Bibb

The Gila Herald’s contributed Mark Kelly article (July 26, 2021) about how Democrats are concerned the local press is fading into history, seems familiar.  I think I’ve read a similar piece before – maybe during the Hillary/Trump 2016 debacle.

CNN and MSNBC must be tanking more than expected.  Anytime Democrats are pushing for media and journalism tax credits can only be for one reason — they realize the ’22 and ’24 elections are soon approaching and their favorability ratings are noticeably slipping.  Especially in rural communities.

The excuse “The decline of local news had devastating effects on our communities.  Local news has often been the only window into the city council or mayor’s office.  Without these outlets, these important institutions in our communities go uncovered.” 

A heart-tugging plea to be sure.  No one likes to see a struggling business flounder, but sometimes difficulties are self-inflicted through mismanagement or unwise decisions.

Or, could it be readership is dwindling because many folks have grown tired of being deceived and preached to by government and corporate editorial boards whose main purpose seems to be to parrot the political line of the socialist left? 

Sounds ominous, but the tri-community area – and anyone else wishing to find out what is going on in Graham County – has multiple news sources.  A twice-weekly print newspaper, published by a multi-newspaper corporation, two independent daily online papers, and radio commentary keeps us informed.  

A few years ago, there wasn’t this variety.  Times and technology change, presenting current news events in a continually updated format.  What happens locally can be reported within minutes or as soon as the story is made available to media outlets.

Apparently, that’s not good enough for Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ),  Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), or Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR).  In their thinking, why have an overwhelmingly liberal media influence, where the country-bumpkins residing in the wilderness aren’t as exposed to the silliness?   Perhaps federal tax credits could be used as a lure to help bring the rest of the “deplorables” into the new age of wokeness.

Keep in mind, this is the same government that is threatening to increase your taxes and eliminate certain deductions. So, with the “tax credit” gimmick, news services will be getting a credit to financially assist their business. 

Using the COVID-19 pandemic as another excuse to introduce a bill in Washington called the “Local Journalism Sustainability Act of 2021,” the proposed legislation touts the importance of supporting “local news organizations through a series of tax credits for newspapers, digital publications, television. and radio.”

Instead of applying the COVID explanation, maybe Mr. Kelly and his friends should concentrate on figuring out ways to get a better handle on the continually flip-flopping, noncoherent government supervision of the COVID mess, and allow private business to operate in a less regulated environment.   

That’s probably not going to happen, for the very simple reason bureaucrats and politicians don’t like to relinquish control once they’ve obtained a taste of it.  

As a result, the “tax credit” is a clever ruse to maintain authority and is often repeated whenever the government is seeking to increase its influence in any particular arena.  Unfortunately, too many people overlook the fact a gift from the government always comes with strings attached.  Usually, a loss of individual authority and an increase in federal/state jurisdiction.

In this case, acceptance of federal money/tax credits might include the understanding a liberal political view should be more prominent in the opinion section.  A not-so-subtle suggestion to media providers is that if you want to play along to get along and receive a few tax credits, then consider the offer and be willing to alter some of your currently held conservative philosophies.     

However, if there’s one thing we don’t need is more government intervention into our “freedom of the press.”  With the titans of social media already canceling anyone or anything they don’t agree with, we certainly could use a little more federal assistance to harness these suppressors of independent thought.  

That’s how the government could really help, by allowing more private enterprises to flourish and compete while restraining the crushing tendencies of giant monopolies.  

Just like they used to do.  In fact, I believe it’s one of their constitutionally mandated jobs.

But, money talks and the more there is of it the louder it can be heard.  Even under the sympathetic illusion of “Hi, I’m from the government, and I’m here to help you.” 

Anytime a smooth-talking official begins a conversation with that opening statement, immediately reply “No thanks, I think I smell the meatloaf burning.”

Which is a polite way of saying “I’m not buying whatever you’re selling – tax credits or not!”

The views expressed in this editorial are those of the author.