Journalism as Charity?

According to a recent article in the Chronicle of Philanthropy, charitable non-profits are facing a new potential threat to their fund-raising efforts – for-profit companies like newspapers. While non-profit media outlets exist, some major for-profit media giants like the New York Times and others are blurring the lines between what’s charitable and what’s not.

Now as a former member of the fourth estate (the media), I often felt like I worked at a non-profit when I was a journalist because I was paid so little. The primary reason I left the newspaper business, where I had become the editor of a daily paper, was because I wanted to raise the standard of living for my wife and I, and our first child who was due to arrive soon.

But to think that media companies are trying to horn in on charitable donations in competition with legitimate non-profits is a concern. There’s no question we need viable media to help protect our democracy and it’s getting harder to discern what’s real news and what’s not. Here’s a link to the article so you can learn more about this trend: https://www.philanthropy.com/article/Media-Adopt-the-Language-of/242375?cid=pt&utm_source=pt&utm_medium=en&elqTrackId=f7a954a27c6b4985b62375e9ee794495&elq=974297be79cb483b961b1dbf685c5f42&elqaid=17651&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=7766

Maybe at some point media companies will have to become real non-profits so they can continue to exist, I think that concept has real merit. That would be better than trying to look like you’re a non-profit when you’re really not. Non-profits face enough challenges in getting the funds they need to help others without having to deal with wolves in sheep’s clothing.