Michael Gartner, who as the former head of NBC News and the Des Moines Register has endured his share of professional scraps, is in the middle of a fight with college newspaper editors in Ames, Iowa, that is taking on national scope.
Gartner, editor and co-owner of the Ames Daily Tribune, is waging a court battle with the Iowa State University Daily. The issue: what Gartner contends are unfair advantages the college rag enjoys in competing for advertising in the town of 50,000.
In three separate actions dating back to November 1995, Gartner has argued that the college paper's sale and distribution of advertising off campus, receipt of US$75,000 in annual state support from the university, and exclusive right to circulate on the Iowa State campus represent unfair business practices.
A group of 46 college editors from around the United States sent Gartner a letter today condemning his efforts and suggested he try journalistic, rather than legal, means to wage his fight. The editors' coalition was organized by Michael Lezerow, founder of the University Wire college news service.
"Your attack on the Daily is ethically reprehensible," the editors' letter said. "By limiting the Daily's ability to compete fairly in Ames, you may ultimately force it out of business. We fear that it would not be the only paper to fall victim to professional local newspapers seeking to dampen the voice - and advertising clout - of college newspapers."
The missive concludes: "Instead of worrying about the Iowa State Daily, we suggest you spend more time focusing on improving your coverage and giving your readers a reason to buy your paper. Only then will you be able to compete fairly with the Iowa State Daily."
Gartner recently told The New York Times that his campaign was necessary to save his business.
"I love the kids at the Daily," Gartner said. "I teach over there, I give them an enormous amount of my time and I want to see them succeed. I just don't want them to stab me in my back when I put out my paper and sell my ads."
