We were embarrassed to learn that one of the classified ads discussed in WLBT's 3 on Your Side story last night ran in the Jackson Free Press. WLBT didn't mention the JFP by name in the transcript, but after reading the report online, we determined that our paper had run one of the ads. It appears that WLBT did good consumer reporting, following complaints and leads regarding the ad and ads like it in other publications, and we applaud them for it.

The "postal jobs" ad that ran in the JFP -- and which is running verbatim in online databases including CareerBuilder.com (the online career website associated with Gannett publications) -- was provided to us by our national Association of Alternative Newsweeklies (AAN), under their AAN Classified Advertising Network (AAN CAN) program.

AAN CAN is a program by which the Association uses classified ad space donated from member papers to sell regional or national classifieds very inexpensively. The JFP doesn't make any money from AAN CAN ads, although they do represent a revenue stream for our non-profit association, thus keeping our annual dues lower than they might otherwise be.

I've written e-mails to AAN CAN officials and haven't gotten a response regarding the specific ad (it's press time for most weeklies around the country), but I'll post a response when I do. In the meantime, we have pulled the offending ad and will work with our association to more carefully monitor ads that are being tracked by the FTC or other groups for fraud. Meantime, we apologize to our readers for running this ad.

Learn more about this scam on this U.S government Web site.

— Todd Stauffer, Publisher

Previous Comments

ID

88743

Comment

Did they take them out of the CL yet? I don't read it much.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2006-08-16T21:11:06-06:00

ID

88744

Comment

Todd, I applaud the forthright manner in which you acknowledged that JFP ran the scam ads, even though they were supplied by AAN CAN. Once JFP found out that they were scam, you quickly notified us readers that you immediately pulled them. You went on to say that while JFP doesn't profit from the placement of the ad, you shared the fact that it might have the apperance of impropriety in that an indirect benefit could enure to JFP vis a vis the likelihood of lower annual dues. You went a step further to tell us what steps you are taking in conjunction with the AAN to help ensure that ads are more closely scrutinized to ferret out scam ads in the future. To top it off, you even apologized for running it. Now, I have a question: Why didn't Goliath handle the recent reputed plagiarism by Courtney Taylor in the same up-front way? The JFPs handling of the scam ad is nothing less than a CLASS ACT. A real class act.

Author

Kacy

Date

2006-08-16T22:42:40-06:00

ID

88745

Comment

Thanks, Kacy. We appreciate that. All, here is WLBT's update on the story from last night. They hadn't called us about it until yesterday, but they did get around to it, which is good. I'll echo Todd's statement that this was good consumer reporting, and I'm glad they did it.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-08-17T10:44:26-06:00

ID

88746

Comment

I'll echo what Kacy said, but these types of ads have been running for years in newspaper classifieds. Any job that you have to pay to get information for is (nine times out of ten) not legit. All these ads do is take advantage of people who are too lazy to go to the library, for example, and research it themselves for free.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2006-08-17T11:07:12-06:00

ID

88747

Comment

True, golden boy, but anything we can do to help protect consumers is worthy. I rather like the suggestion that The Clarion-Ledger makes today, but advertising is on the other side of the wall between church and state here from me, so I'll have to talk to Todd before saying we'll do it. But to me, it sounds like a decent idea. WLBT follow-up today: Mississippi's largest newspaper, the Clarion Ledger and Jackson's alternative newsweekly are making changes to protect consumers. The Publisher of Jackson Free Press told us it has pulled the advertisement from it's inventory. Starting Thursday, the Clarion Ledger will run a disclaimer advising the advertisements do not constitute bona-fide job openings. The newspaper wants to make it clear advertisements listed under their job category provide information as to applying and preparing for certain jobs only.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-08-17T11:09:30-06:00

ID

88748

Comment

This whole episode, for me, affirms that reporting the news fairly and impartially for the public good is the real role of the news media, even when it's media-on-media. JFP did not interpret TV3's reporting of the story as malicious, unlike how the Ledge seems to feel about JFP's reporting that involves them. It seems to me that, when presented fairly and factually, news is news, no matter who is 'called out' because of it. That said, I do concede that the Ledge handled this much better than is their custom. And that too is a good thing.

Author

Kacy

Date

2006-08-17T12:13:09-06:00

ID

88749

Comment

It wasn't malicious. It was important consumer reporting, and I applaud WLBT for ferreting it out.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-08-17T12:25:47-06:00

ID

88750

Comment

**It wasn't malicious. It was important consumer reporting, and I applaud WLBT for ferreting it out.** <-- ladd My point precisely. But it seems to me that the people at the Ledge think that whatever the JFP writes about them, however factual and impartial, is malicious on JFPs part. That's what I was trying to say

Author

Kacy

Date

2006-08-17T13:11:46-06:00

ID

88751

Comment

Oh, I agree with you, Kacy. They have extremely thin skin. What's remarkable me, though, is their hesitation to be really straightforward, and even apologetic, to readers as needed. All Best Practices policies (as well as common sense) say that's the way to build trust.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-08-17T15:35:45-06:00

ID

88752

Comment

Agreed.

Author

Kacy

Date

2006-08-17T16:58:33-06:00

ID

88753

Comment

I'm glad to see that you all were so open about this. Good job! I hope you are able to weed out any other scammers from your classifieds. It would be neat if you had someone to investigate these AAN CAN ads full-time.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2006-08-19T19:09:04-06:00

ID

88754

Comment

By the way, I looked up Type4Cash.com for you, and they may be a scam too: http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?t=7839 http://forum.mtstars.com/main/v/1/25708.html

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2006-08-19T19:29:32-06:00