The Washington City Paper this week introduced hawkers to offer their freebie to commuters in an effort to boost flagging circulation according to the Washington Post. I find this story interesting because I cannot get free papers for my retail newsagency. I’m happy to attract any and all traffic, even if they come to collect a free paper. You’re either part of the news and information supply chain or not in my view.
A quote from the Washington Post story:
A few restaurants and grocers stopped carrying the paper, she said, after customers complained that readers left the newspapers on tables or threw it on the streets. Also, more chain retailers, with policies prohibiting distribution of local newspapers, are moving in, she said.