To The Death
But are they so similar? Not at all, says Bruce Brugmann, owner and publisher of the Bay Guardian. Brugmann said that he wasn’t completely familiar with the particulars of the case up here, though he had heard tell of it. And from what he had heard, it seemed that the cases were completely distinct.
“The whole idea of the act — the unfair practices act — was to help protect a small newspaper against the big chain,” he said last week. “That’s why the Guardian prevailed here, because we were protecting ourselves against the big chain out in Phoenix.
“Up there, Singleton is the big chain, right? And the Reporter is the locally owned paper, right? So what Singleton is doing is trying a jujitsu move here, so the big national chain is trying to use the act to knock out a locally-owned, independent and competitive paper.
“It’s a totally different case. It’s a totally different situation than the Guardian.”
The Brugmann analysis may not take into consideration the fact that the Reporter, in fact, has had access to resources similar to those that Singleton has had. But many local business owners will be happy to stand up and testify on grounds similar to those Brugmann has offered. Before the Reporter, Times-Standard ad rates were obscenely high, and the excess money was shipped back to MediaNews HQ. In fact — and though the Times-Standardis now beyond a doubt the superior paper, editorially — there’s no reason to doubt that Singleton continues to take cream off the top. Those $3 million in losses are hislosses, not the Times-Standard‘s.
Coincidentally, former T-S staff writer Kimberly Wear, a smart and hard-working young journalist, was just named managing editor of that paper. Both papers are now helmed by capable young women. It’s hard to say whether this pissing match between their zillionaire Republican patrons ends up spoiling their tenure or making it. The latter is to be devoutly wished for, and is probably more likely. This is going to be an enlightening lawsuit, and a beautiful thing to witness.
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on the cover
Railroad!
Proposed lines ‘set rich blood a-tingling’ in early 1900s
Some Other Proposed North Coast Railroads
Choo-choo Fantasies
Exposing this east-west rail nonsense
seven-o-heaven
Undeterred Will
Will chides Andrew for lack of attention to detail and makes plans for his inevitable victory.
Recent the town dandy
Jan. 13, 2011
The Golden Boy
Dec. 23, 2010
Wish Lists
Dec. 16, 2010
The Train Geeks Return
Today
44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race
STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free / 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. kineticgrandchampionship.com. 889-3024.
Flow 2012 Fashion Show
STAFF PICK / events / 8 p.m. Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. Student designed and produced clothing. Fundraiser for Arcata Arts Institute. $35/$25 students. artsinstitute.net. 822-1220.
Woodside Preschool's Rummage/Bake Sale
events / 8 a.m.-noon. Woodside Preschool, 900 Hodgson St, Eureka. www.woodsidepreschool.com. 445-9132.
Lanphere Dunes Restoration
STAFF PICK / outdoors / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet at Pacific Union School. Help remove non-native invasives at the Lanphere Dunes Unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Tools and gloves provided, wear work clothes and bring water. Carpool to the protected site. 444-1397.
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ONE Comments
Comment / By hbrown / Aug. 30, 2008, 2:33 p.m.
As a Eureka Native, I look at the TS and ER via the Web almost daily. Today, I spent about 15 minutes at the ER site and about 2 minutes at the TS. Now, I live in San Jose and have to put up with Singleton’s Mercury News. He bought a quality paper and is rapidly turning it into a rag.
But there is hope. Years ago, Dave Price started Palo Alto Daily News. It grew in circulation and continued to expand into neighboring communities including San Jose. It was then bought out by the Mercury News.
Price is back with the Daily Post. It shouldn’t take long to compete with the crap put out by Media News Group.