The Society of Professional Journalists’ Digital Media Committee is seeking your input for U.S. Federal Trade Commission hearings regarding the Internet’s effect on news organizations’ business models.
The FTC may use the information to create media-related laws and regulations on taxes, copyright doctrine, “fair use” of stories, antitrust exemptions and greater public funding for public affairs coverage.
The SPJ Digital Media Committee will share your input with SPJ President Kevin Smith, who is attending the FTC hearings — “From Town Crier to Bloggers: How Will Journalism Survive the Internet Age?” — on December 1-2 in the capitol.
To help us meet the FTC’s deadline for input in advance of the hearings, please share your thoughts by November 2 regarding:
- the economics of journalism on the Internet and in traditional media
- how news outlets’ business models might evolve in response to the Internet
- innovative forms of journalism that have emerged on the Internet
- how competition may evolve in markets for journalism and advertising
- potential changes in governmental laws and policies to support journalism
Besides soliciting the media’s views, the FTC also is encouraging consumers and members of the legal, academic and business communities to share their thoughts.
Please send your comments by November 2 to: spj_dmc@yahoo.com
For more information on the FTC hearings, visit:
- http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-24197.pdf
- http://public.commentworks.com/ftc/newsmediaworkshop/
