From WNYKRC in New York, this is NPR's On the media.

I'm Bob Garfield. And I'm Brooke Ladstone with this week's

bad newspaper news. The New York Times put in place a 5% pay cut. The Boston Globe is hanging by a

thread. Even the satirical weekly The Onion wasn't immune. It announced it was shutting down its

West Coast print editions, and Warren

Buffett said he would not buy a newspaper company at any price. Also this week, the Senate

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a hearing on the future of journalism. Committee

Chairman John Kerry kicked it off. Welcome all to a brave new world.

This hearing is genuinely geared to examine, to understand what we don't know,

to try to figure out from various people in these fields of expertise

of new media and the existing media of where we're going.

All righty.

The senators confirmed the importance of the fourth estate and the crisis it faces.

Senator Ben Cardin stepped up to the mic with a bill that would extend non-profit status to newspapers.

I introduced the Newspaper Revitalization Act.

My legislation uses the 501c3 model, similar to what a church would use or what an educational institution would use, a public broadcasting, and other nonprofits.

Senator Cardin assured the committee that his plan was not a bailout,

just a little boost for the industry.

But it came with a few strings attached.

Under this bill, news organizations would no longer be able to endorse political candidates.

Hmm, that seems a little problematic.

But don't worry because... It was filed in an effort to create a little problematic. But don't worry because...

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