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My old dean (Nick Lemmen) and seven others: are calling upon the federal government to: 1) force journalists and their private sector media companies to produce local news with content that meets stringent, government-set standards, no matter what citizen
David, the post you linked to makes a big overstatement. The New York Times op-ed does not say journalists should be forced to do anything.
It is about broadcast licenses. Broadcasting is already regulated, because the spectrum is finite.
Here is the relvant text from the op-ed: “The F.C.C. ought to treat a broadcast licenseeâ??s commitment of resources to original local reporting on public affairs as a key factor in its decisions about regulatory issues. Companies should be required to make a persuasive case that they will increase their commitment to local reporting if they get what they want” — with “what they want” referring to licensing for broadcasting (cable and through the air).