This is the latest measure of a series of actions by the US government that undermine news companies
By Joshua Benton*
Of all the political initiatives of the President of the United States, (Republican Party), this may be the largest base of support not related to the MAKE AMERICA GREAT Again (MAKE). On September 9, the one that plans to make much more difficult – probably impossible – for pharmaceutical companies to announce their medicines on TV.
You see, until 1997 pharmaceutical companies were required to include huge amounts of information on potential side effects and risks of a medicine in any ad. The amount of information required would fit, say, in a full page ad in a magazine – but it was a lot of information to fit in a 30 or 60 second TV commercial. This meant that pharmaceutical announcements, though not forbidden, were almost unpublished on television. But that year, FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to allow pharmaceutical companies to include only one “Brief Summary” of the greatest risks.
This change gave rise to a boom publicist for history. In 1996, the year prior to the loosening of the standards, drug advertising in the United States totaled (about US $ 1.2 billion in current values). In 2024, this number would be. In the first 5 months of this year, drug ads represented in night TV night news. (The advantage of having, it is supposed).
Trump wants to go back to the old rule, making it compulsory again that exhaustive risk list – which would make TV advertising virtually impossible again. It is a very reasonable idea. The United States is one of the only 2 countries to allow advertisements for medicines prescribed on TV. (Hello, New Zealand!) Few people would stop seeing ads about erectile dysfunction or try to guess which digital surveillance data repository made YouTube decide that you are the perfect target for eczema treatment.
He found that 75% of Americans support the restriction of medicines on TV.1 It is also a rare issue that is not especially partisan. And drug ads may be becoming less effective as media habits change. In 2015, a survey found that 31% of Americans were talking to their doctor about a medicine they had seen in an ad. He found that this number had fallen to 18%.
But still, we are talking about a huge amount of advertising revenue – desiraically focused on journalistic programming! – that could simply… disappear.2 Medicines ads represent. Together, they generated $ 2.7 billion in revenue for ABC, NBC, CBS e Foxand if this revenue suddenly disappeared, it would be expected that the resulting budget cuts were disproportionately to see the news sector.
In the fall of 2024, I wrote that they could have a major impact on journalism – a recauchutage collection of the 1st Trump administration and old lists of conservative desires. One of the 8 proposals I highlighted was, in fact, the ban on the advertising of medicines on TV. Since then, most of the 8 has gone from the idea to federal policy. By my accounts, 5 were put into practice. Two are still in progress, but almost certainly will be performed. The last is technically Unlikely – but it has also been performed in spirit. Here is the summary depressing:
Facilitate the seizure of emails and telephone records of journalists
Done. In April, US Attorney General Pam Bondi, who to summon and seize reporters records, except in the most extreme circumstances. (They acquired it).
End the financing of NPR, PBS and public broadcasting
Done. In July, Trump already approved for CPB (Corporation for Public Broadcasting), forcing it.
Put the fly (voice of America) under the command of the president-or close it completely
Done. In March, Trump essentially closing the voice of America (or,, “Voice of Radical America”), placing all employees on administrative license. A federal judge to prevent Trump, but the head of the voice of America, Kari Lake, went ahead and made a general cleaning anyway, laying 1,400 from its 1,650 employees – the rest just because federal law requires the broadcasting service to have at least 250 employees. The Voice of America website – with a prominent.
Consider expelling reporters from the White House
Done. In February, the Pentagon announced that they could have a working space there. Left: NPR, NBC News e Politico. Entered: Breitbart, Anna e New York Post. That same month, the White House unilaterally decided that. The White House (Associated Press) Trump because he didn’t like to call Mexico Gulf from Mexico Gulf. So when a federal judge appointed by Trump said he could not do that ,. The White House Press Room was not closed, but it was transformed what their questions begin with: “President Trump seems healthier than ever. I’m sure everyone in this room agrees”.3
Punish former employees who speak with reporters
Done. In August, US National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard (still a strange name of typing) of 37 current and old intelligence employees for talking to reporters. (Or, as she defined, “Politizing and manipulating intelligence” e “Leak confidential intelligence without authorization”). This was just the round that Trump consider responsible for the negative coverage of the press.
Remove restrictions on media property consolidation
In progress. The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) that will begin the removal process (or rather “Modernization”) The rules that currently have many TV stations in a particular market. Considering that FCC President Brendan Carr, I believe we can expect this to happen as soon as the regulatory calendar allows.
ELIMINATE PROTECTIONS OF SECTION 230
In progress. (You can’t have allhe knows). In April, government officials conducted one to defend the “reform” section 230 as the way of dealing with the That, according to them, the conservatives face. Carr Prometheus “Advance to the renovation of Section 230” e “Crush the Cartel of Censorship”stating that technology companies should face legal actions from the federal government when they remove content that the government likes. The chairman of the Federal Commerce, Andrew Ferguson, endorsed that, according to Ron Desantis, was created to and apply fines of up to $ 250,000 per day for moderation decisions that the government does not like. It is likely to happen, guys.
Proibir o tiktok
In pause and unlikely – but performed in spirit. Tiktok should be banned on January 18, and the network was disabled for a few hours. But Trump said he would offer a 90 -day length to allow the application to be sold by Bytedance, headquartered in China, to new owners chosen by Trump, —trally. It was one of yours and yours. A 90 -day extension (and probably soon). The Panic of National Security on China’s tortuous influence turned out to be mainly to; Trump now calls these concerns and himself. Therefore, although Tiktok is almost not banned, it will be sold to any billionaire that Trump thinks can help more in his cause.
Footnotes
1 Although this research has been commissioned by something called, which presses “Big Pharma” to reduce drug prices. They do not disclose anything about their leaders or donors on their site; I bet $ 5 that it is funded by large insurers, large hospitals, large pharmacy benefits managers or some other industry sector that would benefit from lower drug prices.
2 The pharmaceutical industry will certainly fight against this almost prohibition in court, arguing that it violates its 1st amendment rights.
3 This speech was from a “Corresponding” From Lindell TV, the streaming service of.
* He is a nieman lab senior founder and writer.
Text translated by Letícia Mendes. Read the original.
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