Jackson Free Press

So a Google alert just popped up showing that the Mississippi Press Association had picked the thread on their sleepy blog about Gannett's Goliath distribution scheme as one of their "favorite posts" of the last year. I clicked over to take a peek and, poof!, it was already gone. Snicker. Betcha someone worried that the Ledger boyz would complain. And there is nothin' like corporate complainin'. Here's the post they ix-nayed. And here's the alert:

Inkblots at 1: Our favorite posts http://www.mspress.org/inkblots/2007/05/21/inkblots-at-1-our-favorite-posts
June 8, 2006: The Clarion-Ledger's Distribution Network gets the Jackson Free Press' shorts in a bunch. July 19, 2006: Emmerich publishers play Survivor, Deliverance-style. August 17, 2006: Youthful Jackson store clerk knows of Tang, ...
InkBlots - http://www.mspress.org/inkblots http://www.mspress.org/inkblots

Previous Commentsshow

It is funny that they are reducing this corporate scheme that Editor & Publisher magazine called a violation of our First Amendment rights into the JFP having our "shorts in a bunch." Thanks, press association. Good to know y'all are representing good journalism in the state. Here's the GoliathBlog to jog y'all's memory about the TDN nightmare. Remember, this is still going on. If you see the Ledger's big-ass green box in front of business, please ask the management to carry locally owned publications.

DonnaLadd

May 21 2007

I noticed that a TDN box popped up recently at the new Mobil station (JJ's Corner) on Northside Dr. and Flag Chapel Rd. Maybe you can go over there and see if they'll let you add an MIPA box.

LatashaWillis

May 21 2007

I noticed that a TDN box popped up recently at the new Mobil station (JJ's Corner) on Northside Dr. and Flag Chapel Rd. Maybe you can go over there and see if they'll let you add an MIPA box. L.W. -- We'll look into it. The point, though, is that companies that sign the TDN agreement cannot add the MIPA box, because they're signed over exclusive control of all free publications to the Clarion-Ledger. Our only option is to convince JJ's to drop their contract with the Clarion-Ledger, which would then allow us to distribute MIPA publications. As far as MIPA (and the JFP) are concerned, it's OK for all of us to be there. As far as the Clarion-Ledger is concerned, if you get a TDN box, then only their authorized publications can be distributed. That's why they're called Goliath.

Todd Stauffer

May 22 2007

Todd, I knew the contract would be an issue. I was thinking that by the time you got through talking to them, they would drop the contract like a hot potato.

LatashaWillis

May 22 2007