With the Chicago Tribune facing hedge fund takeover and gutting of newsroom personnel, the Tribune’s former editor, Ann Marie Lipinski, in Crain’s Chicago Business, February 19, 2020, writes that were the Tribune to fold, it would be a great loss to democracy and civic and business interests. Radio and TV rely on the Tribune for sources of news. She called for novel solutions and more investment from local businesses and civic-minded owners.
Journalism professor Victor Pickard, The Guardian, doubts that, there is a commercial model that can revive the newspaper industry as it lost half its employees since 2001. He sees public support as the only option, including tax incentives, direct subsidies and increased federal funding for public media.
For recent FAC coverage of this issue, click here, here and here.