The corporatisation of America threatens independent, alternative newsweeklies. Even the pro-corporate U.S. Justice Department ironically has joined California and Ohio prosecutors in an antitrust investigation of the Village Voice Media and New Times Corporation, the nation's two largest newsweekly chains, for stifling competition.
It is alleged that in October, Village Voice Media (VVM) and New Times Corporation (NTC) reached an $8 million “agreement” to shut down one of each of their papers in a city where they competed. This “deal” left Los Angeles and Cleveland with only a single citywide weekly each. Whether this “agreement” has influenced advertising rates and is accompanied by cutbacks in news coverage and analysis - especially on the local level - are legal issues being explored.
In November, investigators demanded that VVM and NTC hand over copies of documents related to their complex "deal". Depositions by federal and state officials began in Cleveland, in November, some lasting as long as 10 hours and shifted to L.A. during the first week of January.
It is alleged that in October, Village Voice Media (VVM) and New Times Corporation (NTC) reached an $8 million “agreement” to shut down one of each of their papers in a city where they competed. This “deal” left Los Angeles and Cleveland with only a single citywide weekly each. Whether this “agreement” has influenced advertising rates and is accompanied by cutbacks in news coverage and analysis - especially on the local level - are legal issues being explored.
In November, investigators demanded that VVM and NTC hand over copies of documents related to their complex "deal". Depositions by federal and state officials began in Cleveland, in November, some lasting as long as 10 hours and shifted to L.A. during the first week of January.