85% Oppose FCC's "Reinventing Journalism" Bailout of MSM

In a recent Rasmussen Reports poll exploring the support of the FCC's effort to bailout the mainstream media, 85% of those polled opposed such a move by the government.

85% of Adults believe that maintaining freedom of the press is more important than supporting the newspaper industry. Only six percent (6%) put supporting the newspaper business first.

64% thought that any government intervention would be used to influence what was reported by journalist while 41% thought that this was a very likely out come. 

Sixty-nine percent (69%) think it is at least somewhat likely that a newspaper that receives government funding to hire journalists will avoid criticizing government officials and policies, with 45% who say it is Very Likely. Twenty-three percent (23%) say it’s not very or not at all likely that newspapers will avoid such criticism if they get government funding.

Furthermore, nearly 71% actively oppose any government bailout of the newspaper industry.  This is up from 65% a year ago.  Only a very small minority (14%) believe that a bailout of newspapers would be good for the country.

Personally, I think it's a horrendous idea.  Government intervention in journalism would lead to direct governmental control of the output of media.  Bureaucrats just couldn't help themselves.  If there was a story that was inimical to their agencies interests, do you think that it wouldn't spike a story?  Neither do I.