Legal advertising is one of the biggest revenue producers for weekly business newspapers, so it’s surprising to see what the Fresno Business Journal announced on Wednesday.
The paper, which is owned by Pacific Publishing Group, said that legal notices are now free to registered users of its website.
The item on its website states, “This information includes trustee sale, civil court, probate, fictitious business name and other public listings that regularly appear in our print edition every Friday.
“Starting from May 2, 2011, this searchable data center will be updated every week. There is no charge to view the legal notices, but users will be asked to take a minute to register on the website.”
Who gets the legal advertising is often a battle in many markets. In 2008, the Idaho Business Review won a state Supreme Court ruling that allows it to publish legal advertising. The Idaho Statesman had argued that they should be published in the state’s largest circulation paper.
