Globe Publisher Accused of Restraint of Trade!

This article was re-posted with permission from the online news-magazine IronwoodInfo.com. Lou Bonagura is the webmaster and publisher of that web site.

IRONWOOD, MI - Friday, July 25, 2008 - The usual mundane DIDA meeting took an interesting turn today. During the discussion on tax abatements for certain new downtown businesses, Joe Karius general manager of the Globe made statements pertaining to cooperating and encouraging new businesses to our community. When his turn came to speak James Albert, publisher of the Superior Chronicle accused Karius of hypocrisy and restraint of trade when he (Karius) tried to sabotage Albert's new venture. Karius had the Chronicle shut down for one full day when he went to the Chronicle's web host and accused the Chronicle of copyright infringement. Karius thought the term calendar was copyright protected. Guess again.

Albert further charged Karius with calling advertisers and coercing them into not advertising with the Chronicle. It was further alleged that Karius called WJMS and told them if they continued to read news from the Chronicle that they (WJMS) would no longer be allowed to use news produced by the Globe.

As soon as Albert began to talk, DIDA Chairman George Goerig tried to interrupt Jim Albert and accused him of bashing. (IronwoodInfo.com Editor's Note: Bashing is very tightly defined by Michigan Courts and people attending public meetings usually have the right to say almost anything they wish. Michigan Courts obviously understand how local politicians try to squash any opposition that they can. This writer later advised Goerig to read the Attorney Generals Website before he finds his but on the short side of a lawsuit.) Mr. Albert also accused Karius of trying to dig up dirt on Albert's charity, Deaf Services of America, which, of course, turned up nothing. Just last fall the Globe tampered in Albert's bid to win a council seat. Even after the election a Globe reporter wrote a story about Albert having violated election laws with his signs. The result was interesting. Nothing happened to Albert or the other targets of the story. First the Globe failed to mention the violations of their unfriendly friend$ which occurred right on the Globe pages. Yes indeed folks, the very same violations that the Globe was pointing a finger at took place in their publication. One has to wonder why the Globe publishes political ads that fail to abide by election law ? Perhaps it's revenue. Hmmmm.

Jim Albert's website SuperiorChronicle.com has become a very popular news source in the area and was a success right out of the box. The Chronicle, a true Ironwood publication, has endeared itself to a continuously growing readership. The Globe -- once an Ironwood publication -- is now on its third attempt to publish a successful web site. The Globe is no longer an Ironwood publication. In fact, Ironwood doesn't even appear in its name. The Globe is now owned by a distant Wisconsin media conglomerate.

Lou Bonagura

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