I chose the podcast “Moving Beyond News Deserts and Misinformation” because we discuss the relationship between news and politics in the journalism class I’m taking right now (Comm 271). I learned that most of America’s newspapers started out as political papers, as they were sponsored by parties. The papers’ goal was to spread a party’s message and news, and newspapers and politics were closely tied. Newspapers have become more separated as time has gone on, even though some papers lean towards political sides (like FOX or MSNBC). The podcast focuses on Victor Pickard’s ideas for making America’s press system more functional. 

One of the first things I noticed was Pickard’s idea that the government should help newspapers. Many people argue that the government should stay away from newspapers because of the First Amendment, but the press system wouldn’t be functional without the First Amendment. Pickard points out that the government upholding the first amendment sets the precedent that the government ensures the press system is functional and free. I had never thought of this that way, but it makes sense to me. If the government upholds the laws that keep our press system free and functioning, why can’t the government offer more aid if possible?  

I also think it’s interesting that in the United States, the population is concerned about the government’s interference with the press. It would immediately lead to corruption and censorship if the government were to help newspapers. In Germany, you must pay a fee like a tax for the news (this applies to digital, print, radio, and broadcast). This fee goes straight to the public news system, and it’s a large part of their financing. You would pay this fee even if you were studying abroad and weren’t actually a German citizen (you pay the fee as long as you live in Germany for an extended period of time). Whereas public news in the United States, like NPR, is free for all Americans. However, America’s public news sector isn’t as advanced as many countries as it relies heavily on individual donations. 

Pickard calls for the government to aid the press system, as the commercial press system is structurally collapsing. This is a topic we’ve also covered in my journalism class. Newsrooms struggle to take in revenue, and much of their revenue comes from avenues that aren’t as traditional: subscription fees, newsletters, and apps (games or cooking).  

There are two major considerations: America’s weak public news system and the commercialization of the press overall. Pickard believes that decommercializing and democratizing is the solution. America can build upon the public news system it already has in place but also help move newsrooms across the country away from commercialization. I understand where Pickard comes from, and I also agree with his belief that the news system in America needs to be revamped. Americans have a lot of distrust when it comes to the media, even though most newspapers and journalists are reporting factual, fair stories, and letting newspapers, especially local ones, deteriorate from a lack of resources won’t help the problem. There’s already infrastructure in place, but America just needs to dedicate the time and resources on uplifting the news system.