The nonprofit news: 501(c)(3) papers couldn't cover politics

On Tuesday, Senator Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) introduced a bill that would enable newspapers to operate as nonprofit institutions. The "Newspaper Revitalization Act" would give papers 501 (c)(3) status, a tax-exempt classification that is usually reserved for educational organizations.

This move comes on the tail of numerous newspaper bankruptcies and shutterings. Last Tuesday, The Seattle Post-Intelligencermoved its operation online after declining advertising revenues forced it to stop printing a hard copy edition. In April, The Christian Science Monitorplans to follow suit. At the same time, other news organizations, from the Tribune company to McClatchy are struggling with lower advertising revenues and reduced circulation.