The press has fallen upon hard times. Between 2004 and the end of 2019, about 2,100 newspapers—one in four—closed. Over the last twelve years, newsrooms have shed tens of thousands of jobs. But while the problem of journalism’s economic decline has been well documented, surprisingly little work has been done to sleuth out practical solutions. In this issue, the Monthly tries to rectify that imbalance. Our staffers and contributors have identified several ways government can be used to reinvigorate the economics of journalism without jeopardizing editorial independence. —The Editors
It will take government action to rescue a struggling but vital industry.
Empowering every American with a refundable tax credit for a subscription, membership, or donation to a local media outlet will revitalize the free press.
To save the free press, bust the tech monopolies’ control over advertising.
The tech giants compromise media independence with their corporate donations.
Silicon Valley could wreck audio journalism—unless Washington acts first.
The small but growing trend of co-op media outlets could be the future of local news.
A new crop of outlets is making journalism more diverse.
Major national outlets need to help smaller ones survive.
Related
Independent since 1969.
The Washington Monthly is nonprofit and reader-supported. Your tax-deductible gift pays for the reporting you just read.
