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Last Friday, I told you that the Illinois Press Association has formally come out against the governor’s gross receipts tax. The IPA has also “instructed staff to encourage all IPA members to publish stories focusing on the community or local impact of the proposed GRT.”
Except for my syndicated column and a very brief mention in a Decatur Herald & Review editorial (”The Illinois Chamber of Commerce and the Illinois Press Association have stated they are opposed to the tax.”), I can’t find any other mention of the development in Illinois newspapers.
Some questions must have been raised internally, however, because the IPA sent out another press release yesterday…
In deciding to oppose the GRT the IPA board was careful not to mix the business interests of newspapers with the editorial responsibilities of reporting on the proposed tax plan. However, the board believes that it is important that newspapers provide the public with the necessary information to make an informed decision about the potential financial impact of the GRT on the State of Illinois.
IPA Board President Carter Newton expressed the board’s sentiment. “We are very worried about the long-term effect this tax will have on the businesses and citizens in our communities. We think it will result in higher prices for all goods and services, and ultimately cost jobs. We believe our newspapers are in a unique position to explore this story better than anyone,†he said.
Newton added that newspapers are the premier voice for community information and have an ethical responsibility to tell as many of the people’s stories as possible. Consequently, the IPA board is encouraging member newspapers to write news stories that focus on “the community or local impact of GRT.â€
Newspaper pundits are often quick to write about their own perceived intent of politicians, so today’s question is: Why do you think newspapers in this state appear to be so reluctant to publish anything about their own association’s declarations?
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Mar 28, 07 @ 9:06 am
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“Why do you think newspapers in this state appear to be so reluctant to publish anything about their own association’s declarations?”
Media bias has been exposed over the past ten years to such an extent that newspapers don’t want to purposely become the focus of any issue.
They felt a need to make their public opposition to the GRT, but they are scared they are playing with fire.
Newspapers continue to lose circulation. They don’t want to push advertisers and subscribers away. They are caught in the middle and are trying to avoid any damage.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Mar 28, 07 @ 9:15 am
VanillaMan: I agree with you totally. I cannot improve upon your post.
Comment by Patriot Wednesday, Mar 28, 07 @ 9:20 am
Maybe the media trembles at Blago’s feet? He’s very powerful you know…..
Comment by Goober Wednesday, Mar 28, 07 @ 9:29 am
Pretty simple….it’s a dollar and cents equation. Lots of state money in the media. Lots of political pressure. Many news paper’s opinions are swayed by simple economics. Print the truth and lose business, or stand on the hill and watch to see how the battle goes. Jump in only when it is safe to do so. Freedom of the press, or elected lack thereof is essentially writing it’s own epitaph.
Comment by Justice Wednesday, Mar 28, 07 @ 9:46 am
Why don’t newspapers want the newspaper business to become part of the state’s tax debate?
Because newspapers and magazines are exempt from sales tax in Illinois. Newspapers can’t afford to be seen as a participant in the tax debate because that might open the door to discussion — and possible revocation — of their unique tax-exempt status.
– SCAM
Comment by So-Called "Austin Mayor" Wednesday, Mar 28, 07 @ 9:50 am
The days of reporters like Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein are over! Reporters these days aren’t willing to push the envelope.
All it took was one person to bring down the Nixon Administration, that being William Mark Felt Sr. alias Deep Throat.
What will it take in Illinois?
Comment by Number 9 Wednesday, Mar 28, 07 @ 10:08 am
Media professionals like to say that there are “walls” between the business side of a paper, the editorial side and the reporting side. But let’s be honest, those walls are short enough to hop over when the folks in suits get riled up.
As strongly as a media corporation like the Tribune thinks public corruption is bad, it thinks taxes and minimum wages are bad. They don’t see a difference in crusading to end any of them.
Still, it’s a little ham-handed to announce to the whole world that you oppose a policy, tell your employees to write stories on its “impact”, then claim that you’re upholding your journalistic pledge of objectivity. I bet most of the stories on the GRT’s “impact” will focus on businesses threatening they’ll go under, rather than someone who’s going to get health care or a good education. Kind of like how, with hundreds of articles and segments on Big Box Living Wage, the media couldn’t manage to find one retail employee to interview about what would happen if they got a pay raise or health insurance. To them, the only legitimate impact is what happens to businesses.
I bet the Reader or some other independent does a story on this, eventually. And I bet it really depresses the hardworking reporters and editors who do think they should be objective.
Comment by Underdog Wednesday, Mar 28, 07 @ 2:49 pm