Will Barack Obama Save America's Newspapers, With Money?

The sad saga of America's important newspapers has taken another downward turn, as it looks like the New York Times Company will maybe, probably, definitely shut down the Boston Globe , which it owns, for not making any money at all. A journalistic reporter at today's White House press briefing asked Robert Gibbs about the Globe 's demise, and what it all means, and whether Barack Obama will maybe bailout all of these newspapers? With more unicorn money?? Gibbs had one of those "How should I put this..." reactions.

Your Wonkette does not want major city newspapers to shut down... but the WAY THESE PEOPLE THINK -- that the three million possible job losses that could result from the collapse of the American auto industry (after which most of those laid-off will have *nowhere* to go) is situationally similar to a few hundred reporters getting sacked at a few bloated newspapers with no business models -- is just diabolical.

Q. A quick question on The Boston Globe today, the news that they may have 30 to 60 days to live. What’s the White House’s thinking on the newspaper industry right now and whether or not it may need a bailout, since there are a lot of jobs at stake just as with the auto industry; a lot of people talking about the impact on communities like Boston, Seattle, and places that are losing newspapers? How do you evaluate all that?

Mr. Gibbs: I have not asked specifically about assistance. I don’t think — I think that might be a bit of a tricky area to get into, given the differing roles. Obviously the president believes there has to be a strong free press. I think there’s a certain concern and a certain sadness when you see cities losing their newspapers or regions of the country losing their newspapers. So it’s certainly of concern.

I don’t know what, in all honesty, government can do about it. I would note that, looking at some of the balance sheets, I wondered how you guys didn’t think $100 million meant a lot a few weeks ago, but looking at some of the balance sheets, $100 million seems to me a lot.

In other words, no, we will not give you more money to write terrible nonsense.

 The White House on the Boston Globe [NYT]