The Newspaper Preservation Act, passed by the United States Congress in 1970, granted special antitrust exemptions to certain newspapers as a means of maintaining the editorial and reportorial independence and competitive nature of the press. However, an analysis of specific cases that have involved the act reveals that, while purportedly designed…

Charges that the Newspaper Preservation Act has allowed unnatural monopolistic practices to exist where the free marketplace might otherwise operate, has failed to truly save failing newspapers, and has opened the way for non-failing newspapers to gain special antitrust exemptions. Calls for a reassessment of policy. (RL)