The face of Craig Newmark, the founder of Craig's List, is posted on dartboards in many newspaper publishers offices, right next to the down and to the right revenue chart. Very few newspaper publishers know what to do about the loss of classified advertising revenue. What they know is that Craig's little company has an up and to the right revenue chart. Somehow those publishers think that by blowing up Craig their problems will be solved.
Every unhappy under-performing business needs someone to vilify. It sure is easier than looking in the mirror to find the problem.
The newspapers efforts to paint Craig Newmark as a pornographer surely emphasize that delusional people have a hard time understanding the extent of their delusion. We advertise on Craig's list for job postings. Craig's list is much more effective, and we pay $75 for an add that used to cost us over $600 in the newspaper.
I know that Craig Newmark is a good person and the service he provides works. I cannot imagine this ploy accomplishing anything for the newspaper publishers. If anything it will serve to remind us that it is dangerous to be associated with an industry in decline, particularly one without leadership or good ideas.