Missing the Point with Print Media

Here is a related article to our discussion of the newspaper industry and a fine example of your elected representatives comprehension of the changing world we live in. The AP reports that a senator has suggested making the newspaper industry tax-free in an attempt to help them survive. Other than the obvious fact that taxes are paid on profit, which newspapers are not making, there are additional issues that touch on where newspapers will place themselves within the layers of the industry. One glaring example is how papers continue to focus on their editorial content or will use editorial content as one area in which they will be able to extract value. Non-profit status will greatly limit the types of editorials they can run due to campaign finance regualtions [the non-profit info is down towards the end].
To add one final point, notice where I found the article, Google News. Though this is probably no surprise since the industry's own advocacy association shows 67% of subscribers are over the age of 45, which in my opinion will only increase in the future.
Legislation like this will not help a failing industry.