Shannon Column: Revolt of the ink-stained wretches

Last week, the News & Messenger broke ranks with Dan Rather and much of the journalism profession and came out against the idea of a federal bailout for the newspaper industry.

In reply to Dan “Times New Roman” Rather, the editorial’s immortal words were, “Please. Give us a break.”

But journalists’ volunteering to become wards of the state is not all that far-fetched. Most reporters mistrust the market system since it has “winners,” “losers” and Wal-Mart. On the front page the
word “profit” is closely associated with “greed.” So what are a few handouts among friends?

It’s just a few taxpayer dollars to smooth out the rough spots of the economy. It’s not like the journalists can’t give up the subsidy whenever they want. They can quit anytime, just like the farmers.

I doubt government subsidies would noticeably affect the end product. The New York Times would still read like it was published by the Ministry of Truth, and when writing a negative Obama story
becomes a firing offense it only codifies the current informal arrangement.

Even if the world as we know it ended and Republicans won a future presidential election, a cabinet-level Department of Journalism would be untouchable, just like Energy and Education.

I, of course, agree with the editor’s courageous stance, and I would even if I didn’t work for the News & Messenger. But I do believe the editors may have misinterpreted the motives on the part of
journalists who believe they deserve federal help.

In the journalist’s mind this is not question of mere economics and the unfairness of a market that supports NASCAR, while leaving America’s information elite sucking exhaust.

For them it’s a fundamental question of equity and payment for a job well done on behalf of Democrats. Even a cursory look at the evidence from the recent presidential election reveals that journalists
have a plausible case for federal gratitude when compared to other arms of the Obama campaign:

Unions mobilized thousands of volunteers to work to elect Obama — Journalists mobilized hundreds of reporters to write to elect Obama.

Universities were four of the top 20 aggregate contributors to the Obama campaign — Journalists gave 14 times more money to Democrats than to Republicans.

ACORN is accused of registering thousands of fraudulent Democrat voters, many of them dead — Journalists buried stories that reflected poorly on the Obama effort.

The New Black Panthers blocked selected polling places and discouraged white and Republican voters on election day — Journalists discouraged Republican voters with their non-stop negative coverage
of John McCain and Sarah Palin.

After the elections to some of the victors went the spoils. Unions now control two of the three major American car manufacturers. Universities get new subsidies, proposed easier loan terms for their
customers and a president whose goal is to send everyone to college. ACORN is eligible for funding from the stimulus bill.

Even the New Black Panthers, that fringe organization of fashion-challenged bigots, anti-Semites and thugs, had their charges dropped by the Justice Department.

Journalists? Well aside from better seats at White House news conferences, reporters got bupkis. Oh sure, Michelle gives them a cookie when they report breathlessly from BEHIND THE SCENES IN
THE WHITE HOUSE, but you can’t take that to the bank. And after looking at some newspaper’s finances, reporters won’t be able to take their checks to the bank much longer either.

What a letdown for the newspaper community. Here the real cool guy pays attention to them for months on end. Sits next to them on the campaign airplane, lends his coolness aura and makes them feel
important. The Popular Guy even jokes with them!

Then the morning after the November prom, the Obama administration finds out about this small sore on their balance sheet — not a social disease actually, but sort of a fiscal flu — and he jilts them.

Where is the fairness in that? Two of the Big Three automakers were technically bankrupt, but Obama gave the United Auto Workers the keys to the plant.

Didn’t journalists prove their devotion to Obama by casting many more votes for him on a percentage basis than the autoworkers?

It’s not like they are Nigerian e-mail magnates, just a small “non-profit” designation now would tide them over until the Information Czar mandates the approved list of mandatory newspaper subscriptions
all literate citizens will be required to buy.

Is this any way to treat America’s elite? If Obama can stimulate some drone in the social services bureaucracy, can’t he put a real tingle up the leg of reporters everywhere with some federal funding?

Michael R. Shannon is owner of MANDATE: Message, Media & Public Relations, located in Woodbridge.