The Non-Profit Model - Can It Save Journalism?

This article caught my attention because it was different than most I have recently read. Yes, we all know that newspapers are dying and that they are having a hard time coming up with enough cash. But how often do we hear of people trying out solutions?



Crosscut.com, an online publication started in Seattle that describes itself as "non-partisan" and "in the public interest," has decided to go non-profit.


Battling the difficult economy, the dropping ad prices, and the high start-up costs was tough for Crosscut.


When advertising sales weren't making ends meet, David Brewster, one of the publishers, said he was running out of both money and patience. So, he turned to a solution that has the potential to save Crosscut.


According to the article, Crosscut will now go from a profit-based business to a non-profit organization:


"As a nonprofit, Crosscut would continue to accept advertising but also would solicit tax-deductible donations from individuals and grants from organizations to help finance its journalism."


One of the most prominent examples of a non-profit news organization is National Public Radio.


So now comes the question - will the public support journalism?


I think that comes down to the press-citizen relationship. People need to think of the press as an asset - something highly valuable that is of immense public service. If they take the press for granted, or if they blame it for current problems, then that relationship will be destroyed.


I think that a non-profit model could possibly work - but I highly doubt that most news organizations are in the right position with their readers right now. If they take steps toward showing themselves as reliable, un-biased, quality journalists, then maybe this non-profit thing could save the press after all.


What do you all think? Will it work? Will people donate to their journalism organizations, or do news professionals need to win their trust first?