Ellington

Goliath's march through the Jackson metro, trying to oust free media from our distribution spots, is beginning. Last night, ugly green TDN boxes started showing up in front of businesses on the outskirts of Jackson. The Clarion-Ledger has given all free media until Monday, June 19, to vacate the premises of some 160 locations unless we agree to pay them $8 per spot to be in the big ugly box. The Jackson Free Press and other tabloid publications such as Metro Christian Living do not even fit in the box. We are also not clear that all businesses on the list have signed the TDN contract—some tell us they haven't. And we know that The Clarion-Ledger passed out a list of "accepted" publications that included the JFP and other publications that did not even know about the scheme at the time.

The Jackson Free Press, and other members of the newly formed Mississippi Independent Publishers' Alliance (see Todd's column about MIPA here), are not signing onto this scheme, and call on the Gannett Corp./Clarion-Ledger to play fair and not try to squelch free enterprise in Mississippi.

We urge them to put out a box to clean up their own "clutter," being that they own more freely distributed publications than any other publisher. However, we urge the world's largest newspaper company not to try to squelch local business and free enterprise with such misleading and "exclusive" schemes designed to control the free distribution market and their competition. We also urge them not to put hard-working local businesses in the position where they have to choose between giving their customers access to Gannett-owned publications and locally owned media, such as the Jackson Free Press.

We urge all citizens who believe in real free enterprise to help convince the Gannett Corp./Clarion-Ledger that this is the wrong strategy for Jackson. Read our Citizens' Action Guide on our Goliath blog, and pass the word. Most importantly, please tell all businesses that distribute the JFP and other free independent media—especially in spots where you see TDN boxes pop up—that you don't want to see The Clarion-Ledger push out other local media. (Be nice to them, though—it's the Gannett Corp. that has put them in this position of having to choose.)

Thanks, everyone, for the great support. We still need you as this David vs. Goliath battle continues.

Previous Comments

ID

170579

Comment

One question: Since the C-L is a statewide circulated paper, would they be able to this in a market like Tupelo or Meridian, which have regional papers not owned by Gannett?

Author

golden eagle '97

Date

2006-06-15T13:30:52-06:00

ID

170580

Comment

The best thing that the CL can do to make up for some of their financial losses is to develop a better paper and not waiting on their lead from the Jackson Free Press. This attempt at a monoply will not work. People are just too smart for that. They have made a lot of people angry about simply not doing good journalism. Now that the Cows are out of the Stable, they are trying to close the gate. You can't keep a good paper down. From my old English teacher again: IF A MAN CAN WRITE A BETTER BOOK PREACH A BETTER SERMON, OR, BUILD A BETTER MOUSE-TRAP THAN HIS NEIGHBOR; THOUGH HE BUILDS HIS HOUSE IN THE WOODS, THE WORLD WILL MAKE A BEATEN PATHWAY TO HIS DEN. I know that the JFP writes a better paper and I have faith that we will go where so ever, when ever to access it.

Author

justjess

Date

2006-06-15T13:59:58-06:00

ID

170581

Comment

I saw my first "green monster" yesterday at a BP station on Hwy 80 in Pearl. Looked like a lot of empty slots on it- which meant that it was taking up more space than several wire racks...

Author

Rico

Date

2006-06-15T16:01:37-06:00

ID

170582

Comment

I am making it my personal agenda this weekend to at LEAST make sure that all the places that I usually go to to get the JFP, still has them next issue. I don't think enough people are getting out there and just talking to the managers and owners. I know it only takes one or two phone calls at a newstation to get the news room involved in the story...it's the same way with this. Just go to your favorite local spot and express how upsett you would be to have to go somewhere else to find the JFP.

Author

Jes

Date

2006-06-15T16:42:27-06:00

ID

170583

Comment

and excuse the typo's

Author

Jes

Date

2006-06-15T16:43:08-06:00

ID

170584

Comment

I agree justjess! There is no doubt that JFP writes a better paper. I look at Goliath online just to check out the Marshall Ramsey renditons, but I check out JFP for the REAL NEWS. The Truth. JFP has great people who take the time to check the facts and get the PDFs :) I will go across town for a copy of JFP if I have to.

Author

Missy

Date

2006-06-15T18:46:37-06:00

ID

170585

Comment

Please keep us posted if you guys actually lose any locations to green monsters. A list would be nice...

Author

Rico

Date

2006-06-16T10:46:46-06:00

ID

170586

Comment

TDNs showing up in Clinton now...

Author

kaust

Date

2006-06-16T10:50:21-06:00

ID

170587

Comment

Yeah, a list of places you have been ousted from would help OR a list of distribution points you still have. This would make it easier for us to thank merchants who have not signed agreements with Gannett. Some of my regular pick up points have disappeared; but I don't want to approach merchants unless I am sure about the status.

Author

realtime

Date

2006-06-16T12:08:01-06:00

ID

170588

Comment

I saw my first one in Clinton as well.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2006-06-16T15:43:35-06:00

ID

170589

Comment

Okay. TDN is at the Conoco on Old Fannin Rd...sitting right next to the JFP rack.

Author

JamesInNashville

Date

2006-06-16T16:29:41-06:00

ID

170590

Comment

TDN is at Mac's Convenience Store on Highway 18 W in Jackson.

Author

Kacy

Date

2006-06-18T10:34:08-06:00