NEW YORK. (N-USA) With the financial backing of their government sponsors, news agencies from 17 countries announced the formation of News USA, a $50 billion consortium to bail out failing American journalism.
Parodying a famous quote attributed to American General John J. Pershing, Pierre LaPont of Agence France-Presse announced, "George Marshall, we are here."
According to the annual newsroom census of the American Society of News Editors, American newsrooms have lost a quarter of their reporters since 2001, with no end in sight to the lay-offs and forced retirements. Doomsaying has become a cottage industry, with a series of books speculating on what, if anything, can save U. S. news coverage.
Friday, News USA gave its answer: Foreign intervention.
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