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Delegate seeks end to unwanted paper deliveries
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Annapolis (Map, News) - Del. Tanya Shewell says she’s pro-business but determined to help constituents she claims are angry over unwanted free newspapers.
“I dropped the bill in the hopper today,” the Westminster lawmaker said Thursday. It would fine free newspapers up to $100 per delivery made seven days after cancellation.
The Baltimore Examiner, the Gazette and the free newspapers of Tribune Co.’s Baltimore Sun Community Newspaper Group are among the targets, said Shewell, a Republican.
The bill would require a “do not deliver” list of addresses effective for three years after listing is requested.
Listed homeowners receiving unwanted newspapers seven days after cancellation could notify the consumer protection division of the state attorney general’s office.
“I don’t like to make bills unless they’re absolutely necessary,” Shewell said, adding that she had 20 co-sponsors. “But I don’t think anything has been resolved.”
Baltimore-Washington Examiner Newspaper Group Chief Executive Officer Michael Phelps, who met with Shewell on Monday, said, “My desire for the newspaper to not go to those who don’t want it far exceeds their desire to stop getting it.”
“We want readers who value The Examiner. … I hate it when we annoy readers, and keeping that annoyance to a minimum is among my highest priorities,” he added.
The Gazette Newspapers Publisher James Mannarino said, “I am obviously not for the legislation,” stressing that free newspapers normally have provisions for prompt delivery cancellation. “We believe that freedom of the press and speech is guaranteed by the First Amendment.”
John J. Murphy, executive director of the Maryland-Delaware-D.C Press Association, said he would oppose Shewell’s bill in hearings. “I’ve seen measures like this before,” he said, “but they haven’t worked.”
The 550,000-circulation weekly Gazette publishes 35 editions. The 500,000-circulation Baltimore Sun Community Newspaper Group publishes 21 weeklies. The Baltimore Examiner’s daily circulation is 250,000. The Maryland edition of The Washington Examiner’s daily circulation is 93,000, 101,000 for the weekend edition. The 87,000-circulation weekly Baltimore Guide would also be covered by Shewell’s legislation.
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Examiner Reader said:
Here's the real deal with this other than the trash on my street, when I am away from home I stop my mail and paid newspaper delivery. When I return the mail box is empty and the paper I pay for has not been delivered. However there is a stack of Examiners at the end of my driveway broadcasting the fact that nobody is home. Will they cover my loses if someone breaks in and cleans me out?
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Examiner Reader said:
another indication that the buttheads in annapolis have too much time on their hands. this broad must have thought of this bill while on the crapper.
84 agree | 58 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The lady's wacked. I enjoy my free Towson Times. I'm PO'd I can't get the Examiner -- I believe my wacked out liberal neighbor complained.
86 agree | 79 disagree
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Raciest Irish Seperatist w morals said:
Get it, got it, GOOD!!!
89 agree | 44 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Hey Rag Newspapers - The support of this bill is overwhelming. What has to happen for you cheapos to get it? WE DON'T WANT YOUR TRASH ON OUR LAWNS! Maybe if we gathered them up and dumped them on your lawn, you'd get it.
88 agree | 58 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Michael Phelps is a liar. He has been saying the same nonsense for almost two years, yet his distribution department continues to deliver to people who politely ask by phone and email that they do not. Teall people how they can opt-out of your daily paper, and no law will be needed.
72 agree | 68 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
What if each paper placed a link where we could subscribe or unsubscribe from driveway delivery of free papers. Not having such a simple mechanism tells me the papers aren't helping the matter. They should provide such a link and ensure it's execution. I know the Sun didn't have any execution issues when I finally unsubscribed to the paper I was originally "paying" for. When money is involved, the carrier seems to remember where NOT to deliver. If a self imposed plan and strategy like this doesn't work, make it a repeatable $250 fee paid to the homeowner for each unauthorized delivery. Problem solved.
83 agree | 61 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
You can email or call the delegate and tell her she is a real idiot. As if she did not know. But she needs to be told.
77 agree | 56 disagree
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Stephen Larson said:
“We want readers who value The Examiner. … I hate it when we annoy readers, and keeping that annoyance to a minimum is among my highest priorities, Michael Phelps added” Note the careful wording. The fact is it is far easier to deliver to all houses on a street then to keep a list of exceptions. This is why asking for a free paper to not be delivered doesn't work. The carriers ignore the orders not to deliver and the papers don't enforce them. The law is required.
67 agree | 73 disagree
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Claire M said:
I read papers online, while paper copies are useless to me. I want ALL papers to offer online-only subscriptions.
77 agree | 87 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
How about us folks that used to get delivery of the Examiner, still WANT delivery of the Examiner, but delivery stopped and no matter how many emails we sent delivery doesn't resume?
82 agree | 55 disagree
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