by Tegan Jones, editor

In December 2007, the FCC passed a proposal to reverse its long-standing ban on the cross-ownership of newspapers and TV stations in top 20 markets. At the time, the ruling was contentious and split the commission along party lines.

Roughly 16 months later, the issue is still the source of intense debate. Soon after the rules were published, anti-consolidation groups, such as Free Press and the Media Alliance, filed a challenge to the decision in the Third District Court. At some point, the court must rule on this decision, but with only three of the five commission seats filled, the FCC is torn on whether to go ahead with the proceedings or delay the decision until new appointments can be made.

The two Democratic members of the FCC out-muscled their singular Republican colleague last Thursday, announcing the commission no longer opposed delaying a decision on the new rule, which overturned a statement the FCC made on Jan. 9, before Republican Chairman Kevin Martin stepped down. Not to be silenced, Republican Commissioner Robert McDowell wrote his own letter to the court on Friday, explaining that, in his opinion, the time to act is now.

As newspapers across the country face the prospect of failure, it’s clear that journalism must adopt a new business model. But without the freedom to try new things and run with what works, print news organizations—and their electronic counterparts—will be stuck in the mud, spinning their tires.

This isn’t to say that media conglomeration is the solution for the Fourth Estate. To preserve objectivity and serve local interests, markets need to have a wide diversity of voices covering the news. But this coverage no longer separates broadcast and print the way it once did.

The fact is, no one knows what the media market will look like once the financial crisis is over and the country comes out the other side. Streaming video and social media will help change the face of news in the next few years, and it’s the FCC’s responsibility to ensure that any new model will serve the American people and provide independent and objective news.

In the meantime, the industry must be allowed to adapt—or only the very strongest will survive.