[Noachian]

What are the legal issues involved?

This is a good question – one that I have relatively few answers for

The legal thing is the part that would worry me most. Each city has an alternate newspaper, and they have three things in common: they're left wing, they're full of ads, and they never get sued.

I've seen some outrageous reporting in alternate newspapers, but these left wing papers get a pass on whatever they say and no advertisers pull away from them.

I'm quite sure a Conservative alternate newspaper wouldn't get the same treatment as a left wing paper. Print one column that "offends" liberals and the liberal double standard would kick in: Advertisers would be pressured to pull out, lawsuits would have to be paid for, and the paper racks would be vandelized.

Feedom of the press is a one-way road to radical liberals, and that's probably why you don't see any Conservative alternate newspapers in the local coffee shop rack.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Well, because of this threat, do we just roll over and not try? Because by doing that, they win.

You raise good, valid points, but to just give in means we lose by default. SOme things ARE worth fighting for, and our values should be one of them :0)

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

That is a discouraging aspect.

I wonder if adequate use of disclaimers would solve the problem. (Pinging a couple of guys who might have some idea.)

Chad - I also wonder whether talking to or teaming up with someone from one of our two local conservative radio stations might be a good place to start. (Maybe someone here has contact with one of the local hosts.) They deal with a lot of the same issues, I would imagine, and maybe they could give you some good information.

[Libertina]

three things in common: they're left wing, they're full of ads, and they never get sued
Correct... Unlike Jim Robinson and FR. Now even the Onion is pitching a hissy for posting and discussing their articles once in a while... However, since WE'LL be doing the publishing I think we can forge ahead.

[Maigrey]

Just to dispute your comments, even if the paper in question is considered "centrist" the liberals would scream about it being a conservative paper.

The legalities could be handled on a case by case basis until the paper took off or folded.

But saying that it's a lost cause and not worth fighting for is foolish. That is what makes the fight that much worth it, and worth fighting for.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

they're left wing, they're full of ads, and they never get sued.

I've seen some outrageous reporting in alternate newspapers, but these left wing papers get a pass on whatever they say and no advertisers pull away from them.

I'm quite sure a Conservative alternate newspaper wouldn't get the same treatment as a left wing paper. Print one column that "offends" liberals and the liberal double standard would kick in: Advertisers would be pressured to pull out, lawsuits would have to be paid for, and the paper racks would be vandelized.

The definition of "objective journalism" is self-referential.

The objectivity of anyone who adheres to the "party line" that mainstream journalists are objective (including of course the mainstream journalists themselves) is never challenged by any (other) member of mainstream journalism. It would be against the rules of the Establishment which is mainstream journalism.

If a Bernard Goldberg does write a Bias, he does not cease being a journalist--he is an unperson who never was a journalist.

The least regulated form of publication is the Internet web site, and it is no accident that you are reading the above subversive description of reality on a web site and nowhere else. Even a newsletter would be subject to more hassles, as Noachian has noted. Broadcast TV is the most Establishment-regulated, followed by big newspapers (Washington Times the only maverick) and cable news (Fox News Channel the only maverick). Radio, where conservative-hosted shows are rife, is remarkably low-regulation, if you don't notice that even the most conservative hosts are interrupted by anticonservative news programs. Rush's EIB network is the greatest conservative address in publishing space currently extant.

My humble opinion is that FreeRepublic.com is superior to anything other than Rush, and Rush's superiority lies only in his great address which only requires a pocket radio to access. Great addresses are expensive, tho--and even your newsletter costs money. I vote for spending that spare change on advertising FreeRepublic.com to improve the value of its address.

Why Broadcast Journalism
is Unnecessary and Illegitimate

[FastCoyote]

"The legal thing is the part that would worry me most."

No problemo. My business experience tells me - when in doubt -punt!

You do what every on-the-edge-business does, you firewall your assets and set yourself up for quick restart under a different name. You put the whole business in the name of your insane penniless aunt in the asylum, so any lawsuit goes nowhere. All profits are sucked up by wages. Write under nom-de-plumes. You guys get the idea. Trust me, I've had to operate this way on many occasions for self preservation.