Press war in San Pedro

Robert Gelfand reports in The American Reporter on a quiet little 3-way newspaper war brewing in San Pedro. On one side is a new advertising supplement by Dean Singleton's Long Beach Independent Press Telegram, on the other is a similar new vehicle from Copley's Daily Breeze. Occupying the middle is what sounds like the most interesting of all, a scrappy, left-leaning, rabble-rousing biweekly called Random Lengths. Its publisher recently blasted the others' corporate politics, but Gelfand figures the fight is actually about something else.

Random Lengths is an alternative newspaper politically and culturally, but it depends on local advertiser revenue to continue. The recent issue contains ads for surfboards, doors and windows, the antique stove store, plumbers and window installers, furniture and appliance and clothing stores and all manner of restaurants.

There are only so many people living in the immediate area, and there are only so many advertisers. It is all from the same shallow well that Random Lengths, San Pedro Magazine and More San Pedro will be extracting advertising dollars.

The American Reporter, the online publication started in L.A. by former candidate for mayor Joe Shea, now lists Jill Stewart as a correspondent.