An attempt to draw out President Obama’s thoughts regarding the collapse of the U.S. newspaper industry was unsuccessful after White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs declined to allow WND’s correspondent to pose questions.
One major publication, the Rocky Mountain News in Denver, closed down last week, just a few weeks short of what would have been its 150th anniversary.
Les Kinsolving, WND’s correspondent at the White House, had prepared to ask Gibbs two questions:
- Has the president had anything to say about the closing of one of America’s oldest daily newspapers, the Rocky Mountain News?
- Reuters reports that the San Francisco Chronicle, our 12th largest newspaper, has lost $50 million, and with current losses mounting, if it cannot be sold, also will be shut down. What is the president’s feelings about the Chronicle, which endorsed him for president.”
Gibbs allowed a reporter for Fox News to ask seven questions, National Public Radio five, the Wall Street Journal four and reporters for Reuters, ABC News, the Los Angeles Times and ABC Radio each to ask three each.
Only 17 of the five dozen reporters were recognized to ask questions during the press briefing.
According to published reports, the newspaper industry has been facing declining readership for several years, and now the once-steady stream of advertising income has dried up.
Among the publishers facing trouble are Tribune Co., which was made over into a private corporation in 2007 by billionaire Samuel Zell. Facing debt and income declines, it has filed for bankruptcy protection, listing $13 billion in debt and $7.6 billion in assets.
The Minneapolis Star-Tribune followed, listing liabilities of $661 million and assets of $93 million. Then came the Journal Register Co., which publishes nearly two dozen daily newspapers, including the New Haven Register.
Philadelphia Newspapers LLC also has sought bankruptcy protection, reportedly having missed loan payments since the middle of 2008.
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