Journalism's market failure

+ whatever happened to free time? US Edition - Today's top story: Saving the news media means moving beyond the benevolence of billionaires [View in browser]( US Edition | 13 February 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Immigration reform has never happened during an election]( - [Electric vehicles have a surprisingly long history]( - [​​]([This robot harvests cotton like a lizard’s tongue]( Lead story In the mid-2010s, a host of wealthy entrepreneurs, philanthropists and investors – including Laurene Powell Jobs, John Henry, Jeff Bezos and Patrick Soon-Shiong – poured hundreds of millions of dollars in legacy media outlets in the hopes of shoring up an industry that had endured a long, steady decline. Many observers praised these developments, seeing well-meaning billionaires as journalism’s last, best hope. But back in 2017, media scholars Rodney Benson and Victor Pickard wrote an article for The Conversation in which they warned of the risks of “[being in thrall to these benefactors](,” who “may threaten, more than strengthen” U.S. democracy. They were right. Seven years later, Soon-Shiong and Bezos have slashed their newsrooms at the Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post, respectively, in the hopes of reversing financial losses. It turns out that the bottom line still matters – no matter how well-meaning investors may be or and how many billions are in their coffers. In a new article, Benson and Pickard break down what’s happened over the past few years. They explain the forces that have [accelerated the media industry’s systemic market failure](, and they outline what a robust media system – one that works in the public’s interest and can resist market pressures – might look like. [ [Sign up for our weekly Global Economy & Business newsletter, with interesting perspectives from experts around the world](. ] Nick Lehr Arts + Culture Editor Billionaire media owners can’t change inhospitable market dynamics. Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images [Saving the news media means moving beyond the benevolence of billionaires]( Rodney Benson, New York University; Victor Pickard, University of Pennsylvania How can an industry experiencing systemic failure get back on its feet? Arts + Culture - [Why is free time still so elusive?]( Gary Cross, Penn State In 1930, economist John Maynard Keynes famously predicted that within a century, the normal workweek would decrease to 15 hours. Why was he wrong? Ethics + Religion - [Why having human remains land on the Moon poses difficult questions for members of several religions]( Joanne M. Pierce, College of the Holy Cross; Mathew Schmalz, College of the Holy Cross Two scholars who study death rituals explain that the corpse is considered spiritually polluting in many religious traditions, while the Moon holds a sacred place. - [Love songs in Hindu devotion – the Tamil poets who took on the female voice to express their intense longing for the divine]( Archana Venkatesan, University of California, Davis In Hindu devotional poetry, love directed toward Vishnu can take many forms, including service, maternal adoration and the intense intimacy of lovers. Economy + Business - [Electric vehicles are suddenly hot − but the industry has traveled a long road to relevance]( Hovig Tchalian, University of Southern California This seemingly cutting-edge technology isn’t entirely new to our century. Education - [Philadelphia hopes year-round schooling can catch kids up to grade level – will it make a difference?]( Daniel H. Robinson, University of Texas at Arlington An education expert explains the potential benefits and drawbacks of year-round schooling in Philadelphia. Politics + Society - [In the face of severe challenges, democracy is under stress – but still supported – across Latin America and the Caribbean]( Noam Lupu, Vanderbilt University; Elizabeth J. Zechmeister, Vanderbilt University; Luke Plutowski, Vanderbilt University A survey of people across 24 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean found widespread concern over the economy and crime. - [Immigration reform has always been tough, and rarely happens in election years - 4 things to know]( Daniel Tichenor, University of Oregon Immigration reform has always been hard to accomplish. As the U.S. enters an election year, bipartisan reform now appears out of reach. Health + Medicine - [Global health research suffers from a power imbalance − decolonizing mentorship can help level the playing field]( Oluwafemi Atanda Adeagbo, University of Iowa; Brenda Yankam, University of Nigeria; Engelbert Bain Luchuo, University of Johannesburg Though the Global South tends to experience higher disease burdens, most public health decisions and knowledge generation are centered in the Global North. Environment + Energy - [Our robot harvests cotton by reaching out and plucking it, like a lizard’s tongue snatching flies]( Hussein Gharakhani, Mississippi State University Cotton is one of the world’s largest crops and is harvested with large, heavy machines. Robotic harvesting could yield higher-quality cotton with less damage to plants and soil. Science + Technology - [Flowers grown floating on polluted waterways can help clean up nutrient runoff and turn a profit]( Jazmin Locke-Rodriguez, Florida International University; Krishnaswamy Jayachandran, Florida International University Phosphorus and nitrogen contribute to water pollution and cause harmful algal blooms. New research shows how mats of floating flower beds can take advantage of these nutrients while cleaning the water. Trending on site - [Atlantic Ocean is headed for a tipping point − once melting glaciers shut down the Gulf Stream, we would see extreme climate change within decades, study shows]( - [Can anyone make a citizen’s arrest? The history and legalities of catching criminals yourself]( - [A brief history of Dearborn, Michigan – the first Arab-American majority city in the US]( Today's graphic 📈 [A study of more than 4,500 male baby boomers found that fewer than half spent their prime working years continuously employed.]( From the story, [The myth of men’s full-time employment]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails: • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Follow us on social media: • [Threads]( • [Bluesky]( • [Mastodon]( • [Post.news]( • [LinkedIn]( • [Instagram]( • [Facebook]( • Or [get a daily text from us]( - - About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. 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