The United States Federal Trade Commission has set out to identify, and prescribe a cure for, the problems of the journalistic industry, reports the New York Times. The Commission will host a series of public forums to discuss ways to make the industry profitable again. Thus far, several diverse ideas have been suggested, including loosening antitrust laws, imposing a tax on iPads and other electronic devices, and creating a public fund to pay young journalists. The commission is expected to publish a final study later this year. However, Susan S. DeSanti, overseer of the commission, says that coming up with a set of suggestions now could be premature, considering the fluctuation of the news industry, which is "in the midst of a profound transition."

Yet, the commission could easily be a futile effort. While times may be glum for the industry, DeSanti added that the commission could end without any concrete solutions or actions. Jon Leibowitz, commission chairman, said last week that the commission had a "very strong allergy" toward antitrust law exemptions and that he believed a journalism tax would be a "terrible idea."

Moreover, the commission's ideas have not been met without criticism. Most of the proposals that the commission published in a draft were met with resistance, particularly from the political right, which strongly opposes the government's supporting news media with higher taxes.

Other criticism of the ideas has focused on the inappropriate inclusion of the government in the workings of the free press. Steven Brill, who is currently developing a system for online paid newspapers, says government intervention in journalism should make journalists feel uncomfortable. Yet, he remains confident that journalism is in no real danger from government influence, saying "it's like you're living on another planet if you think that is going to happen."

Others have suggested a free market survival-of-the-fittest approach to the future of journalism: let the market decide which news source will survive. However, it would be unfortunate if the market decided none of the above and the future of journalism was left to bloggers and free newspapers.

Nonetheless, the commission's findings should prove to be valuable. Journalism is facing unprecedented problems without a clear answer in sight. While the commission's findings may not lead to government intervention, perhaps the study will spark the imagination of an industry deeply in need of fresh ideas and innovation.

Sources: New York Times