Senate Subcommittee To Hold May 6 Hearing On Issues Threatening News Media

Circle May 6 as the afternoon Sen John Kerry (D-MA) will chair a subcommittee hearing on the future of journalism and the "issues that threaten today's news media." "The history of our Republic is inextricably linked to the narrative of our free and independent press," he said in announcing the hearing. "Yet today, America's newspapers are struggling just to stay afloat. I called this hearing to directly address a problem that for too long has had us turning the other way. Whatever the model for the future, we must do all we can to ensure a diverse and independent news media endures." But the announcement said it will address "the economic recession's impact on media," so broadcasters may well be included given that the newspaper-broadcast crossownership rule was at one time the subject of much congressional action.