The Atlanta Journal Constitution Sucks!

AJC Daily Circulation Drops Again:

2011-11-14T00:11:00.000-05:00

JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION,
ATLANTA (FULTON CO.)
AVG (M-F) DLY was: 183,415 now: 173,884
Circulation averages for the six months ended: 9/30/2011

JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, ATLANTA (FULTON CO.) AVG M (M-F) DLY 173,884

JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, ATLANTA (FULTON CO.) SUN DLY 410,022

JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, ATLANTA (FULTON CO.) SAT M DLY 186,034
From: http://abcas3.accessabc.com/ecirc/newssearchus.asp

2011-10-11T17:43:00.001-04:00

Why no BBB report for their long time member?

You are now at my main AJC site!

2011-10-08T22:01:00.000-04:00

This is one of several sites set up to inform the public of just how bad the littering problem is with the Atlanta Journal Constitution and ACI (American Circulation Innovators) throwing 88,000,000 advertising circulars around the metro Atlanta area each year.

The AJC admits that this is done 'to save money', originally they mailed out these pieces of junk mail, but for the last two years have had ACI employ 800 housewives, retirees and college students to drive through our metro Atlanta area neighborhoods and throw these circulars onto our property.

Take a look at the site and then hopefully you will cancel any subscription you have with the AJC (they only have a circulation of 183,000) and Boycott anyone advertising in the circulars.

2 Mailings being prepared

2011-10-07T11:51:00.000-04:00

Some of the readers of this site will soon be receiving a mailing containing a collection of informational post cards and magnets along with the below text. The first mailing was sent out 10/6/11.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
250 Informational packets, such as those enclosed
here are being sent to:
1. AJC/ACI employees
2. Media representatives
3. Homeowners
4. AJC Advertisers
A further 250 will be mailed later in the month.
Various internet sites are online dealing with the
AJC/ACI’s massive littering of Metro Atlanta.

Subscribers are asked to cancel subscriptions and
advertisers are asked to boycott the AJC until they
cease their massive littering campaign.
Here are my 4 blogsites, plus one other put up by
other annoyed consumers:

http://www.atlantajournal-constitution.blogspot.com/
http://atlantajournallitterproblems.blogspot.com/
http://atlantajournalsucks.blogspot.com/
http://eveningedge.blogspot.com/
and also see:
http://www.stopajcreach.org/

Here is one of the people responsible for tossing all this crap around Atlanta!

2011-10-07T01:01:00.003-04:00

Photo: David Morel,Vice President/Operations at American Circulation Innovations - (ACI)

===================================
Torrey Sanchez

News Media Circulation Manager at American Circulation Innovation

Drop him a line and tell him what you think of all the litter they are throwing around Atlanta:

Torrey Sanchez

ACI Media Circulation Mgr
3380 Town Point Dr., NW
Kennesaw, GA 30144
Take a look at the ACI web site at: http://www.acicirculation.com/

September 2009 – Present (2 years 2 months) Greater Atlanta Area

"I work closely with the Market Director and lead a team of sixteen employees and nearly eight hundred Independent Contractors through a weekly distribution of 1.3 million copies of Atlanta Journal Constitution media products weekly."

===================================================

AJC/ACI Wants YOU!

Hurry over and bring your SSN card, vehicle insurance, drivers license and sign up for a minimum wage job tossing crap onto peoples property!

Shown Above: 1 of 3 Distribution Centers.
This pictured one is located at:
ACI Dist. Center at
3380 Town Point Dr., NW
Kennesaw, GA 30144

The other 2 are located at:
South Fulton (Atlanta)
5295 Buffington Rd. Ste. 200-I
College Park, GA 30349

North De Kalb (Atlanta)
675 Park N. Blvd., Ste. 100
Clarkston, GA 30021

The below advertisement is typical of all ads for ACI:

2011-10-06T00:01:00.001-04:00

As of 10/6/2011 The Better Business Bureau says:
"BBB's information on this company is being updated, and no report is available at this time."

The info has been updating for at least 2 months, my below 8/4/11 post also mentioned this. Why is it taking so long to 'update' the information? My guess is that the BBB has had so many complaints about this 3rd rate newspapers littering that if they actually rated the AJC they would have to downgrade the usual A+ rating and of course that might make the AJC decide to quit the BBB. The AJC has been a dues paying BBB member since 1952.

Take out a few minutes of your time and put in your own complaint about the AJC littering problem. You can do this online in just a few minutes or you can write via snail mail. Here is the contact information:

BBB of NE Georgia
503 Oak Place, Suite 590
Atlanta, GA 30349
www.bbb.org
The quickest way is online at: http://atlanta.bbb.org/
===================================================

Aug 4, 2011

The AJC has been a dues paying member of the BBB since the 1952 and normally they have gotten an A+ despite the many complaints about them. I see that now the BBB is 'updating' the AJC report.

I suspect that this means that they don't want to downgrade them and lose the dues the AJC pays them to be a member so they put up the info that the firm is being reviewed. These days absolutely no one would believe that the AJC would deserve an A+ rating.

2011-08-10T14:31:00.005-04:00

The Atlanta Journal Constitution, as a money making newspaper, is finished. All newspapers are today’s version of the dinosaur. The news delivered by any newspaper is 12 to 24 hours old. This is called ‘history’. For ‘news’ people turn on their television, radio or look at the internet. Why read about how London is burning when you can watch it in real time.

Q) So just what keeps the AJC in business?
A) Advertising, but NOT the advertising in the daily papers.

What black ink the AJC has comes from 2 advertising flyers that American Circulation Innovators distributes on behalf of the AJC. The ‘AJC Reach’ on Monday/Tuesday and the ‘Evening Edition’ on Thursday/Friday.

For economic reasons the AJC believes it has the right to throw

1,700,000 plastic encased advertising circulars onto the lawns, sidewalks and driveways of homeowners each week. Yes that is each WEEK. That is 84,000,000 pieces of litter in metro Atlanta each year.

The Atlanta metropolitan area (see map) spans 28 counties in north Georgia and has a total 2010 population of 5,268,860. The Atlanta Journal Constitution has an average readership Monday through Friday of only 184,000.

Two years ago these flyers went via US Mail. The AJC admits that they now use the ACI firm to distribute these in order to save money.

The AJC should either return to using the post office to deliver their advertising materials or just quietly go out of business. Their desperate attempts to stay afloat come at the high price of being the major source of litter in metro Atlanta.

2011-08-05T10:04:00.000-04:00

Scroll down to view text of the document or,
Click on for larger and more readable document:

For easier reading here is the AJC reply to my 2nd BBB complaint:

8/12/11: Immediate response and corrective efforts were made on the day of the report of unwanted delivery and continue to be made. An immediate dispatch to confirm no paper remained on the property was made on the day Mr. Smith made us aware of the issue. A complete review of events was conducted and an immediate corrective plan put in place based on findings. We regret any inconvenience this has caused Mr. Smith. We are committed to responding and resolving reports of delivery concerns as quickly as possible.

We will continue to monitor results and confirm no delivery is made to the Smith property.
====================================================

The BBB invited me to comment/reply to the AJC:

Who is this "Mr. Smith"? My name is HARRIS, I am the same HARRIS that has been complaining about the AJC tossing unwanted sale flyers onto my property for nearly 2 years.

I think you must agree that this reply is just a slap-dash sort of reply and has no merit at all, very typical of the AJC. They can't even get a boiler plate reply done correctly so you can't expect that they 'checked the property' - whose property did they 'check'? I see that your BBB site is 'reviewing' their rating. It is usually an A+ as they have been a dues paying member of the BBB since 1952.

I expect you will want to keep them as dues paying BBB members so you will probably continue to rate them at A+ and this will just shoot your BBB credibility in the rear. No one in metro Atlanta thinks that the AJC is an A+ business and a continued rating of A+ will just show people who look them up that you are totally in the bag for this bunch of incompetents.

=================================

From the 'cheap shots are a terrible thing to waste' department:
"At least we can be pleased that this bunch is only running a newspaper and not a nuclear reactor."

The AJC is back throwing their crap on my property again

2011-07-31T11:39:00.001-04:00

I made it clear to them last year that if/when it happened again that I was going to hire an attorney to go after them. Now they are back tossing this garbage onto my property. They did the whole Summer Stream subdivision today. I am now looking for a lawyer to take up the matter.

Yeah, I've seen just how well this works-

2011-07-30T11:37:00.002-04:00

Subject: Response from AJC Publisher Mike Joseph
Date: 9/28/2010 10:29:36 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time
From: JPetty@ajc.com
To: Consumer2010@aol.com
Dear Mr. Harris,

On behalf of the AJC, I wanted to respond to your e-mail to Publisher Mike Joseph on Monday, Sept. 27.

REACH has served customers and advertisers by delivering valuable savings every week for nearly 20 years. It provides effective advertising solutions to both small and large advertisers across metro Atlanta as well as every week offering hundreds in savings to consumers.

Moving to driveway delivery is a decision that we, along with many others in metro Atlanta and across the country, have made due to rising postal costs and the need for guaranteed day-of-week delivery. That said, we will always honor individual requests to discontinue or move delivery back to the mail. Residents can e-mail reachee@ajc.com, or call to request a delivery change: 404-526-9473. This number also is printed prominently on the REACH product itself.

Sincerely,

Jacqueline Petty, Public Relations Specialist, AJC

Another BBB Complaint is filed:

2011-07-28T00:01:00.002-04:00

OK, I admit it is a waste of time to file another BBB complaint, but I don't want anyone saying I didn't take all options open to me. You might see below my first complaint. The AJC promised the BBB that they would stop tossing their crap on my property. Obviously they have started up again, so you can't believe them even if they swear on a stack of bibles that they won't keep doing it.

Also you might want to consider that the BBB rates this firm as an A+, that the AJC has been a dues paying member since the 1950's and that the BBB isn't going to downgrade them as long as they keep paying dues. The AJC pays $ each year for 'membership', I don't. You don't need to be a rocket scientist to figure that one out.

Contact infor for the AJC

2011-07-20T09:43:00.005-04:00

Publisher - Michael Joseph, 404-526-5893, mjoseph@ajc.com
Editor - Kevin Riley, 404-526-2161, kriley@ajc.com
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer - Todd Cregar, 404-526-5125, tcregar@ajc.com
Senior Vice President, Human Resources - Susan Davidson, 404-526-5377, sdavidson@ajc.com
Senior Vice President, Sales - Moya Neville, 404-526-2009, mneville@ajc.com
Vice President, Sr. Managing Editor - James Mallory, 404-526-5325, jmallory@ajc.com
Vice President, Circulation - Amy Glennon, 404-526-7237, aglennon@ajc.com
Vice President, Marketing - Amy Chown, 404-526-7214, achown@ajc.com

If you want to contact other AJC employees or mass mail them this link will take you to their email addresses: http://tinyurl.com/4yzcelv

As a Consumer Issue . . .

2011-07-08T14:11:00.004-04:00

I would have expected more community indignation over 1.7 million pieces of junk advertising supplements being thrown onto private property each WEEK.

Over the last 20 months there have been protests here and there, several blogs set up, at least two confrontations with the thugs hired by ACI to deliver this crap, but no real uprising of interested community activists.

Where are all the tree huggers when you need them, the Save the Whale folks are also out to lunch. There is no one in metro Atlanta doing more damage than the AJC in respect to littering our community. The AJC has been doing this since they transitioned from mailing out the garbage supplements to dumping them on citizens lawns, sidewalks and driveways.

Corcerned individuals are having problems finding others to join in the protests. The AJC simply dosen't care who likes it or who dosen't, they are going to continue dispensing this litter as long as they can make money doing it. Speaking of which, it may well be that the only black ink on the AJC ledgers comes from this advertising, clearly they are not making money with M-F circulation of 183,000.

Since the AJC won't stop of its own accord, continues to ignore citizen complaints and won't even provide any comments on the situation to the Atlanta media you might well ask just what can be done to halt this littering of Metro Atlanta.

I move up the blog my earlier comment on this FYI:
=============================================

We need some Legal help, where are the activist lawyers in Georgia when you need one!

In early 2003 the bar reported 26,936 active members in Georgia. Attorneys in Georgia are not equally distributed throughout the state. More than two-thirds—almost 18,000—reside within sixty miles of Atlanta. Forty percent work in one county, Fulton.

Now the AJC distributes 1,700,000 of these toss away advertising supplements each week to homes (not apartment houses), so logically there would be at least 12,000 lawyers who are getting these unwanted flyers in their driveways, or on their lawns or sidewalks.

Isn't there just 1 lawyer out there who will take the time out to file for a TRO or initiate a class action suit to stop the AJC?

We need some Legal help, where are the activist lawyers in Georgia when you need one!

2011-06-17T00:45:00.003-04:00

We need some Legal help, where are the activist lawyers in Georgia when you need one!

Isn't there just 1 lawyer out there who will take the time out to file for a TRO or initiate a class action suit to stop the AJC?

ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION
SUN Circulation 391,815
SAT Circulation 199,568
(M-F) AVG DLY 183,415

Circulation averages for the six months ended: 3/31/2011

See, I told you the AJC Sucked!

2011-01-21T00:21:00.006-05:00

The AJC Reach is back in the news again for continuing to litter the streets, lawns and driveways of Metro Atlanta.

CBS TV had a 3 minute long update on the problem in tonight’s 11 PM broadcast. News Anchors Stephney Fisher and Jaquitta Williams summarized the problem and tossed it to Leslie Tanner in the field in Reynoldstown , SE Atlanta where she interviewed local resident Karl Xjimenez who complainted that the AJC had started the New Year with a continued barrage of advertising supplements and Ms. Tanner also interviewed Ms. Peggy Denby of the ‘Keep Atlanta Beautiful’ organization which is in the midst of a survey of the litter problem in Atlanta.

As usual the Atlanta Journal Constitution is ducking and diving and not providing any explanation for their continued bad conduct.

In my own Kennesaw area we still seem to be on the AJC ‘do not throw’ list, but as I have commented before, these lulls never last long, and I expect that before much longer we will have the problem again with both of the AJC toss away papers.

For the latest story see: http://tinyurl.com/6kn874c

Attn: Mr. Sandford H. Schwartz

2010-09-04T09:43:00.009-04:00

9/4/2010

Mr. Sandford H. Schwartz
President, Cox Media Group

6205 Peachtree Dunwoody Road

Atlanta, GA 30328-4524

RE: Atlanta Journal Constitution

Dear Mr. Schwartz:

I have seen your site http://www.coxconservesheroes.com/atlanta-ga.aspx and while I am impressed by it I have to comment that it seems rather odd that Cox can on one hand support conservation efforts and on the other have their major Cox newspaper (Atlanta Journal Constitution) throw 1,500,000 advertising flyers each week onto lawns, driveways, sidewalks and sometimes even in the gutters in the Atlanta metro area.

You could do far more for the environment by making the AJC go back to mail delivery of their advertising supplements than you are doing with your entire Hero's organization.

The firm that the AJC chose to distribute their toss down advertising circular has had a very poor history and lasted 7 months in the Dallas area, doing exactly what they are now doing in Atlanta.

It seems that the AJC Executive Selection Committee knew about the poor reputation of American Circulation Innovators (ACI) even before they chose that firm to be their distributor but went ahead with the contract simply on a low bid basis. Clearly this is putting money before responsible management decisions and it entirely opposite of the values your group has set forth in your 'Heroes' awards.

I have several blog sites and I am now asking you for a formal reply to the above concerns so that I can post it on my blogs.

Sincerely,

William Harris

Click on for larger image

2010-09-02T21:52:00.004-04:00

The Moleman Says:

From deep within the bowels of the Atlanta Journal Constitution comes the information that:

• Many local retailers are calling in to report that thousands of the AJC flyers are being tossed into their strip mall dumpsters each week.

• ACI (the distributors of AJC Reach and Evening Edge) lasted 7 months in Dallas (08/09) when they tried to distribute the Morning News’ “Briefing”, described as a total screwup. Weekly Briefing distribution was 1 million papers.

• The AJC top management (ie: Selection Committee) knew about the poor history of ACI prior to signing up with them but went ahead anyway due to their being the cheapest distributor.

• 40% driver turnover weekly.

• Managing ‘Stop Requests’ gets little attention, it is lip service most of the time.

• Drivers have no time to consider those few ‘stop lists’ provided and the drivers are told: “Get the papers out of here!”, this results in papers in the gutter, on sidewalks, lawns etc.

• Never had all routes delivered yet, due to lack of drivers willing to work for min. wage and toss 3,000-4,000 papers a day. (normal route is 1,200).

• ACI is really a ‘mom and pop’ operation that has a good blog site set up and that is about all it has that works.

• ACI may be terminated shortly due to poor performance in delivering the papers.

• Even if canned tomorrow, ACI has made a mint already.

• Neighborhoods of vocal protesters are skipped in the hope that they will then give up their protests thinking things have changed (they haven’t).

More 'Moleman' news coming soon!

=======================================================

Thanks for looking at this site!

But don't forget there are other sites on this topic and you will want to take a good look at them also:
http://www.stopajcreach.org/,
http://twitter.com/StopAJCReach,
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=372770857545

=================================================

CBS TV Keeps after the AJC

AJC Reach Continues To Break Atlanta Litter Law

City Officials Still Haven't Written Citations!

By Lesley Tanner, CBS Atlanta Reporter

June 28, 2010

ATLANTA -- Six weeks after city officials told staff at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution to change delivery methods of their weekly "Reach" circular, the company still hasn't complied.

David Eckoff read comments on the Facebook page dedicated to the circular and those who want it stopped. Hundreds of members have posted complaints about the paper. They said it's thrown on their driveways, blows into the street and ends up left behind as litter. For the past few weeks, Eckoff said his street hasn't had those issues, because deliveries have stopped.

"If it's due to permanent and lasting changes in the delivery process then I'm delighted," said Eckoff. But he said he can't find out for sure. "It's particularly difficult when the AJC won't communicate with us," said Eckoff.

Eckoff started calling the mayor's office in May, hoping to discuss the city's litter law. Under current code circulars must be weighed down or secured to a door or porch. Eckoff got his first reply on Monday, when a member of the mayor's communications staff called Eckoff, and told him the AJC is testing ways to weigh down the bags.

CBS Atlanta went to find out where and how the tests were being done. A few blocks from Eckoff's house deliveries looked like they might be sealed to keep the papers in the bag, but the plastic was just melted together.

Crews didn't find any bags with weights in Kirkwood either. Resident Jay Taylor said he's unhappy to hear the AJC is still breaking the law. "I wish the city would cite them if they're breaking the law, and they should," said Taylor. "Little things that are allowed to slip by like that can build up into big things."

City officials wouldn't confirm if or when citations would be issued, but CBS Atlanta found out that for the past few months there hasn't been anyone qualified to write litter citations.

==============================================

Here are some email addresses for both top management and general mailboxes at the AJC. Nothing like a good email to start off the day! Just highlight and copy to your outgoing email:

mjoseph@ajc.com, jdwallace@ajc.com, beickhoff@ajc.com, sdavidson@ajc.com, moya.neville@ajc.com, jmallory@ajc.com, achown@ajc.com, listen@ajc.com, customercare@ajc.com, kpark@ajc.com, newstips@ajc.com, ajcclass@ajc.com, letters@ajc.com, insideajc@ajc.com

===============================================
"How Can I Make The Newspaper Stop When I Don't Subscribe?"

The link to this article has been on my blog for six months, but the article is still available and the 103 comments are from all around the country and are even more interesting than the article. This is a problem nationwide with other newspapers and you can find this info at:
Go to: http://consumerist.com/2010/01/how-can-i-make-the-newspaper-stop-when-i-dont-subscribe.html

================================================
ACI has approx 300 drivers who are independent contractors and who deliver on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday with routes of 1,400 homes a day. They operate out of North Cobb: Kennesaw, South Fulton: College Park and North Dekalb: Clarkston where they accept applications for employment and require a Driver License, Social Security Card, Current Car Insurance and Car Registration.

Some interesting info on another blog:

A sister blog that is also anti-AJC has a new post which in part quotes "What Georgia State Law Says"

Georgia law O.C.G.A. § 16-7-58 prohibits placement of advertisements on public or private property unless the owner of the property has given permission.

Take a look at this at:
http://www.stopajcreach.org/2010/07/ajc-reach-distribution-in-violation-of-georgia-state-litter-law-o-c-g-a-%C2%A7-16-7-58/

As posted on the Atlanta Craigslist

2010-08-26T22:16:00.001-04:00

The Atlanta metro community is fed up with the trash that the AJC throws onto our driveways, lawns and sidewalks. They toss out 1.5 MILLION of these advertising supplements each WEEK. That's right it is each WEEK, not each month of year. They use to mail out the AJC Reach and Evening Edition but it cost a few cents too much so now they have hired a 3rd rate firm from California to toss this litter into your yards.

Boycott the AJC, if you have a subscription cancel it and let them know why, if you advertise with them, STOP it and let them know that you will not support them in their efforts to make money by littering our neighborhoods.

Take a look at:
http://www.atlantajournal-constitution.blogspot.com/
http://www.stopajcreach.org/,
http://twitter.com/StopAJCReach,
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=372770857545

Keep an eye on these sites for information on picketing the AJC and also a class action suit that is in the works. We might need you for both efforts, so check back frequently!
==========================================

CBS TV - Many Reports But They Can't Get an Interview

A lot of people in the metro Atlanta area are rightly annoyed at this newspaper and the useless litter they put onto driveways, sidewalks etc. CBS has had no luck in getting the AJC to do any interviews on the matter.

See some of the CBS TV reports at: http://www.cbsatlanta.com/news/23005466/detail.html and http://www.cbsatlanta.com/news/23017222/detail.html the print stories are at the end of this blog, just scroll down to find them.

==================================================

Now I am getting the AJC trash on

Monday as well as Thursdays!

As you will read below, I have been trying for months to have the litter that the AJC calls 'The Evening Edge' stopped from being tossed onto my property every Thursday. They said to the BBB in reply to my complaint: "We have stopped all Circulars at this address. . . Your request to have the Evening Edge stopped at your address for good has been properly noted and received."

2 Thursdays have come and gone since they wrote that, both days there was an 'Evening Edge' in the driveway. Not only that, but today, Monday March 1 they threw a new advertising section in the drive and this is called 'AJC Reach'. So not only am I getting the Evening Edge on Thursdays now the problem has doubled with this new AJC Reach on Monday!

Photos 3/1/2010

FYI: I put in a BBB complaint, the AJC still has its A+ rating with them and I see that my complaint has now been 'administratively closed'. I guess the BBB isn't going to take any action on a member that is clearly violating their own guidelines. IMHO the BBB is worthless.

=========================================

BBB - 2/26/10 Response

"We will close the complaint to report that despite the company's willingness to state their position; you did not agree with their response and therefore remained dissatisfied."

Better Business Bureau Atlanta

2010-06-05T10:05:00.003-04:00

Since I had six months ago put in an unsuccessful BBB complaint I checked back to see if their A+ rating was still intact. Unfortunately it is.

This newspaper has been a member since 1952 and despite 35 complaints this year the BBB seems quite happy to ignore consumer complaints about a long standing member. I guess they like having the AJC as a dues paying member and are quite willing to allow the newspaper to get away with spreading trash around Atlanta as long as the paper pays their dues.

Here is the BBB site in case you want to add your own complaint to other victims of the AJC: http://atlanta.bbb.org/
===============================================

1,700,000 Copies a Week of 'litter' on our streets!

2010-04-24T13:11:00.020-04:00

American Circulation Innovations is the firm that the AJC hired last October to distribute 1.3 million copies of their AJC Reach each week. ACI was also selected to distribute approximately 400,000 copies of Evening Edge on a weekly basis.

The total distribution in Metro Atlanta is 1.7 million copies weekly or 88.4 million copies on a yearly basis. That is a heck of a lot of litter to be tossing on our streets, driveways and lawns. The latest circulation figures for the M-F AJC shows that their daily circulation fell 24.7 percent to 195,582.

Keith Somers, is ACI's General Manager and their main address is: 1501 W. Wardlow Road, Long Beach, CA. 90810, Tel: (310) 233-2750 (FYI see: http://www.acicirculation.com/). David Morel, is the ACI Director of Strategic Planning and Development, Tel: (562) 805-7681.

This is a 40 year old firm and the AJC contract is their largest among the 50+ publications they distribute. Other papers using them are: Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Examiner, San Diego Union Tribune, Orange County Register and Yellow Book USA.

(See also: http://www.acicirculation.com/newsAtlanta.php)

From the ACI web site:

Double click for larger image or print out

The below is the 4/28/10 CVS emailed reply to my complaints:
CVS/pharmacy®

Dear Mr. William Harris,

Thank you for contacting CVS/pharmacy. Your e-mail has reached the Customer Relations Department. We appreciate the time you have taken to contact us with your concerns.

I have formally documented your comments and forwarded your concerns directly to our Advertising Department. We have contacted the AJC and they are aware of the complaints and working to resolve the issue, including updating their information about vacant homes in order to cease delivery to those addresses. They also offer the opportunity for customers to receive the AJC REACH via postal mail. They state that they have added a carrier penalty system for poor delivery performance and conducting spot checks in targeted areas to ensure delivery accuracy. They have established a dedicated Customer Care line for REACH delivery services. The number is 404-526-9473. Please feel free to contact them directly.

Thank you again for contacting us Mr. Harris. We value your feedback and look forward to serving you in the future. Have a wonderful afternoon!

Sincerely,

Danielle
CVS/pharmacy, Customer Relations
08828987

My Reply:

Thank you for your reply, I have posted it on my blog site: http://www.atlantajournal-constitution.blogspot.com/

I just want to make sure you folks at CVS are aware of the volume of this litter that is being distributed around the Atlanta area. I am not complaining about 100,000 copies or even 200,000 copies. The AJC is throwing 1,700,000, that is 1.7 MILLION copies of this trash and it is not a year or a month - it is 1,700,000 plastic encased advertising flyers each WEEK, over 88 MILLION of them a year.

The little tweeks that the AJC had put into place are really meaningless.

You really must reconsider just whose side CVS is going to be on. Do you want to support the major source of litter in the Atlanta area or do you want to do the responsible thing and tell them to STOP THROWING litter onto peoples private property.

You can't be on both sides of this issue.

Either you are part of the solution or you continue to be part of the problem!

Atlanta Man Video Tapes AJC Reach Delivery Woman

2010-04-20T08:46:00.002-04:00

Atlanta Man Says Video Shows Delivery Woman Breaking The LawBy Michelle Marsh, CBS Atlanta Reporter
ATLANTA -- An Atlanta man fed-up with unwanted deliveries of the AJC Reach, hopes his video will force the city of Atlanta to take action.

Patrick Kidda said he called the Atlanta Journal Constitution Reach’s customer service line a month ago and asked them to stop delivering the AJC Reach.

He said despite his request, the ad circular was still being delivered.

Kidda said he became so frustrated that he decided to video tape the delivery woman dropping off the circular Monday.

Kidda said, "If this person can drive around, the AJC can do that, wouldn’t everybody, if everyone dropped trash out their window wouldn’t that be a problem?"

The city of Atlanta said Atlanta Journal Constitution violated city laws when it delivered Reach ad circulars to street curbs and driveways.

Earlier this month, city officials told CBS Atlanta News if the AJC didn’t change their delivery methods, the paper would be cited.

Kidda hopes his drive-by video will now be enough to force the city to take action and cite the company.

AJC officials have repeatedly refused on-camera interviews with CBS Atlanta News since March 30.

CBS Atlanta News did get an e-mail from the AJC saying they would review Kidda's claims.

==============================================

A few more letters to the BBB couldn't hurt:

April 5, 2010

Ms. Keesha Wright
Dispute Resolution Counselor
BBB
503 Oak Place Suite 590
College Park, GA 30349

RE: My complaint to you about the AJC

Your incoming dated 5/29/10 was received today.

I appreciate your BBB interest in this matter.

The AJC reply would be acceptable if it were not for the fact that they originally answered in a similar manner yet continued to toss their papers into my driveway on Monday and Thursday. For the past 10 days I have not had these unwanted items showing up and I hope this remains the case, I doubt that it will based on past experience. I assume the case will now be closed. I have been advised by other property owners that they were also putting in complaints.

I would like to further bring to your attention that this firm, rated as A+ by the BBB, continues to throw these unwanted circulars into driveways, sidewalks and private property all across the Atlanta Metro area.

This is the subject of at least 2 CBS TV reports, blog sites such as:
http://www.stopajcreach.org/
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=372770857545
http://twitter.com/StopAJCReach
http://www.atlantajournal-constitution.blogspot.com/

The Atlanta Better Business Bureau needs to take away the A+ rating you have given this firm. They do NOT deserve it and it makes the BBB look like they will take any steps necessary to excuse one of their members bad acts just so they can keep getting the yearly dues payments.

Why not do the responsible thing and tell the AJC to either correct their littering or you will drop their rating to 'U' for unacceptable.

William Harris
Kennesaw, Ga.

=====================================

Double click for larger image:

2010-04-16T12:30:00.004-04:00

MISC: Ms. Tanner from CBS TV 9 came by today to do an interview about the AJC problem. She relates that the AJC brass are still dodging any on camera interviews about tha matter. Seems to be the old 'head in the sand' sort of response. They know that they screwed up and don't want to appear on camera to try and defend their bad judgment.

=========================================

Kennesaw Man Fights AJC WIth Postcards

Resident Created Postcards To Send To Elected Officials, Advertisers
By Lesley Tanner, CBS Atlanta Reporter

KENNESAW, Ga. -- Holding a postcard that reads, 'The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Sucks,' William Harris said his message isn't subtle, but he can't think of a better way to get the attention of the publishers at the AJC.

"I've contacted the AJC so many times it's like hollering down a well," said Harris. "It makes a little noise, but it doesn't really accomplish anything."

Harris said that's why he printed up hundreds of postcards, asking residents to boycott the AJC and its advertisers. He's mailed them to his neighbors and local elected officials, now he's preparing a stack to mail to the advertisers themselves.

"They're not being a good neighbor to us by throwing things on our lawn, particularly when we tell them don't do it," said Harris.

Neighbor Mark Drummond said he doesn't mind the deliveries, but does think the AJC should respond to their customers' concerns. "If there's that much of a concern on the part of the community, I think the AJC should address that," said Drummond.

After repeated requests, Harris said delivery finally stopped to his entire Kennesaw subdivision two weeks ago, but he said that's still not enough. "It's a Metro Atlanta issue," said Harris. "It's not a Kennesaw issue or a subdivision issue, it's a common sense issue."

And issue he said goes beyond litter.
"It also tips off every burglar that drives by that there's nobody in residence," said Harris.
Kennesaw's mayor told CBS Atlanta News he agrees that repeated deliveries are a safety issue.

The city council may also look at how the deliveries can be regulated under the current city code.

Post Cards are in and being sent out!

2010-04-16T01:40:00.000-04:00

The first of the post cards have arrived today 4/12 and I am busy addressing them to post the first tomorrow. The initial batch are going out to the media, City and County elected officials, the nice folks at CBS TV (telling them to keep up the good works) and to neighbors in our development.

The latest outgoing post cards are to AJC advertisers:

2010-04-15T23:03:00.004-04:00

Previously post cards have been sent out to media, City and County elected officials, homeowners and also several businesses are passing them out to their patrons. 500 post card are in the initial received order and another 500 will arrive shortly.

This is a consumer/homeowner unfriendly newspaper and until they change their nose in the air attitude such unfavorable publicity will continue. CBS TV continues with its efforts to get the AJC's attention, however, the paper seems intent on ignoring public opinion.

I believe that the next step is a picket line in front of their building.

==============================================

Tell them to 'knock it off' and keep their trash off your property!

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AKA: Evening Edge) 72 Marietta Street NW, Atlanta, GA. 30303

Senior Management:
Publisher - Michael Joseph, 404-526-5889, mjoseph@ajc.com
Editor - Julia Wallace, 404-526-7679, jdwallace@ajc.com
Senior Vice President, Circulation/Production/Technology - Bob Eickhoff, 404-526-5011, beickhoff@ajc.com
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer - Todd Cregar, 404-526-5125, tcregar@ajc.com
Senior Vice President, Human Resources - Susan Davidson, 404-526-5377, sdavidson@ajc.com
Senior Vice President, Sales - Moya Neville, 404-526-2009, moya.neville@ajcmediasolutions.com
Vice President, Sr. Managing Editor - James Mallory, 404-526-5325, jmallory@ajc.com
Vice President, Marketing - Amy Chown, 404-526-7214, achown@ajc.com

With various contact info via:
Home Delivery/Circulation (404) 522-4141
listen@ajc.com,
customercare@ajc.com
Editorial Staff Karen Park, Editor, (404) 526-7526 kpark@ajc.com
Newsroom: (404) 526-7003 newstips@ajc.com
Advertising: AJC Media Solutions, (404) 526-5775
AJC Reach:
Erica Singleton (404)-526-5079.

Misc:
ajcclass@ajc.com
letters@ajc.com
insideajc@ajc.com

=============================================

Cobb: Atlanta Newspaper Breaks The Law

Code: Must Stop Delivery At Resident RequestMABLETON, Ga. -- CBS Atlanta has learned that the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has broken Cobb County's litter law, by refusing to cease delivery after residents' requests. "It's just pathetic," said resident Jewel Woolridge.

Jewel Woolridge lives across the street from a Mableton home that has more than a dozen copies of the AJC's Reach and Evening Edge circulars piled in the driveway. Common sense would say, if the house looks vacant, don't throw trash in other people's yard," said Woolridge.

Patrick Oakley agreed. Every week he said ads blow off his neighbors' lawns and into the sewer. "Those letters go into the drains and straight into the river," said Oakley. He started calling the AJC two months ago, and asked to be taken off their delivery list. "It took me at least five or six phone calls," said Oakley. "I would call every Monday, and every Monday it would show back up again."

On one of those calls, Oakley was told the driver would stop delivering and pick up the old papers, so he said he left them in his yard for a few weeks. "I got a letter from my homeowners' association warning me to pick up the trash in my yard and on my driveway," said Oakley.

Cobb County litter code states that any newspaper that continues to deliver "after having received notice from a person to be removed from the distribution list," is in violation. Code enforcement officials said, after several complaints, they called the AJC, who sent a representative to talk to neighbors who wanted off the list. But management for Oakley's subdivision said they've called the paper repeatedly, and even sent two cease and desist letters to the AJC, but got no response.

"I feel like I should take them all and dump them on the AJC's front lawn.," said Oakley. "I don't see the difference." The AJC did not respond to requests for an interview, or questions about the pile at the Mableton home.

See story at: http://www.cbsatlanta.com/news/23071052/detail.html

AJC Promises to the BBB to STOP Dumping Their Advertising Sections on my Property are Broken!

2010-02-25T12:05:00.001-05:00

I had complained also to the BBB where the AJC is a member and after some delay they replied to my complaint via the BBB who sent on a notice to me listing their 2/17/10 reply which says:
"We have received a request to stop Evening Edge at 3236 Summer Stream Lane, Kennesaw, Ga 30152. We have stopped all Circulars at this address. I apologize for the delay in a response to your complaint. However, please be assured that we can and will pick up any circulars in your driveway or on your lawn that we have delivered in error. Your request to have the Evening Edge stopped at your address for good has been properly noted and received. Thanks for your Patience."

Keep in mind that this reply was sent to the BBB on Wed 2/17. On both Thursday 2/18 and today 2/25, the Evening Edge was tossed into the driveway! So absolutely nothing has changed.

I note that they say they can come out and pick up the flyers if I call them. You might recall that a large part of my complaint is that I am gone a considerable part of the year from the Kennesaw residence, thus I am not home for weeks/months at a time and won't be able to call to have the accumulation of unwanted papers removed, so that assurance is absolutely worthless.

Reply to my BBB Complaint

2010-02-24T19:38:00.001-05:00

The AJC finally replied and said they would stop dumping the Evening Edge onto my property. I suspect they will, for a few weeks, then they will be back tossing it onto my driveway again.

My Complaint:

2010-02-23T13:12:00.001-05:00

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a Thursday handout which they have tossed into driveways, or on lawns or sidewalks.

The contents are just advertising flyers and sections of the AJC which contain advertising. There is no 'news' value to these throw downs.

These throw aways are NOT wanted by me. I do not subscribe to the paper, do not read it from the news boxes etc. I have no interest in the AJC and in particular I am not interested in their advertising crap landing on my property.

I have complained to them (on 12/3/09) and it stopped for 2 Thursdays, then today it started up again today, one in my driveway, one at the curb in front of the house and a further wrapper only which seems to have blown in from elsewhere on the block.

I am a firm supporter of the 1st Amendment and rely on its protection as a citizen journalist with over 90 blogs of my own. I do NOT believe that the 1st Amendment gives the AJC or any other publication any cover for tossing litter on my property and certainly NOT after having been told not to.

On 12/3 I thought I had the problem taken care of, seems like I don't. In addition to owning my little quarter acre I also own an artificial heart valve, disabled parking tags from 2 states and a real poor disposition when it comes to morons who want to toss crap on my driveway and lawn which I have to go out and pick up.

An additional reason for my annoyance is that I have an out of state residence and spend about 1/2rd of my time there. As I have now twice pointed out to the AJC Executive Office, the piling up of such uncollected throw aways is a major tip off to the criminal element that there is no one in residence.

I don't want to come back after being away for 8 weeks to find my house cleaned out because the AJC has been tossing these things on the driveway and made it apparant to the burglars that no one was home.

There are now 4 sites about this problem, soon there will be considerably more:
http://atlantajournallitterproblems.blogspot.com/
http://atlantajournalconstitutionsucks.blogspot.com/
http://www.atlantajournal-constitution.blogspot.com/
http://eveningedge.blogspot.com/
==================================

This is a problem nationwide with other newspapers and you can find this info at:
"How Can I Make The Newspaper Stop When I Don't Subscribe?"
Go to: http://consumerist.com/2010/01/how-can-i-make-the-newspaper-stop-when-i-dont-subscribe.html

Thurs. Feb. 18, 2010

2010-02-18T09:54:00.000-05:00

At 8:55 a.m. the Evening Edge was in the driveway, by 9:40 a.m. the surveillance camera shows it being blown down the street.

2010-02-13T17:22:00.000-05:00

Away for a week and I come back to find that they are still dumping this Evening Edge onto my property. They just don't listen!

Update -

2010-02-04T13:39:00.000-05:00

Despite complaints to the AJC and to the Better Business Bureau, the junk papers keep coming. This Thursday there are 2 instead of the usual one.

BBB

2010-01-23T00:31:00.000-05:00

Double click for larger image

Better Business Bureau Complaint

2010-01-21T19:43:00.001-05:00

Time to STOP the AJC Litter!

2010-01-21T13:28:00.002-05:00

AJC Trash from Dec 3, 2009

The Marietta Daily Journal had for years the same sort of Thursday handout paper. I complained about this 'trash isssue' to them at least 10 times and each time it stopped for varying periods of time. I don't know if the AJC is running a similar handout or if they simply took over the Daily Journals operation. Whichever is correct the same issue exists: neither paper has any 'right' to throw trash on private property and in particular NOT after having been advised not to do it.

------------------------------------
Jan 22, 2010
UPDATE:

Despite being told that the AJC would discontinue throwing their trash handout advertising section on my property, here they are still doing it.

I have complained again and no one has been in contact. A Better Business Bureau complaint is going out tomorrow.

---------------------------------------------------------

Newspaper Ads Anger Residents

2009-10-17T23:09:00.001-04:00

Residents: Driveway Drops Litter Our Neighborhoods By Lesley Tanner, CBS Atlanta Reporter
ATLANTA -- A group of Atlanta residents say the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's weekly ads are littering their neighborhoods.

David Eckoff pointed out the litter that he said he finds in front of dozens of Virginia Highland homes. "Week after week they are piling up," said Eckoff.

The advertising circular, called the AJC Reach, is delivered weekly to driveways across Atlanta. But Eckoff said many delivery drivers throw it onto the sidewalk or into the street.
The publisher, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, used to deliver the ads by mail. They wouldn't answer CBS Atlanta's tough questions on camera, but a spokesperson said the rising cost of postage forced them to make a change.

"It's unacceptable to reduce cost for a company by increasing litter throughout my neighborhood, and many others throughout Atlanta," said Eckoff.

Those neighborhoods include the Kirkwood area, where Jeffery Childers lives. "Every Sunday, Monday and Tuesday I simply dread," said Childers. "When I'm out walking the dogs, my litter pickup is two to three times greater than it is on any other day."

AJC officials admitted there have been problems with the national delivery company they hired. They put a phone number on the front page for residents who want to cancel delivery to their home, or vacant homes in the neighborhood, but Eckoff said it's not enough. He started a Web site, StopAJCReach.org, to urge residents to boycott Reach advertisers.

"It's one point of economic pressure we can put on the Atlanta Journal-Constitution to make them stop," said Eckoff.

The president of Pro-Carpet, which advertises with Reach, told CBS Atlanta he agrees with residents' concerns. He said he even asked the publisher to go back to mail deliveries, but was told they didn't have the budget.

If you have a question about Reach delivery in your area, or want to cancel delivery, call 404-526-9473.
====================================

From:
http://www.cbsatlanta.com/news/23017222/detail.html

Are Atlanta Newspaper Ads Breaking City Law?

Ordinance Regulates Ad Circulars On Private Property
By Lesley Tanner, CBS Atlanta Reporter
http://www.cbsatlanta.com/index.html
l
ATLANTA -- Winnie Currie said she spends her afternoon walks looking for the AJC Reach advertisements that litter her street. Currie said the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's delivery methods are annoying and illegal.

"It's not the proper way to deliver fliers," said Currie.

City code states that handbills, including ad circulars, can't be thrown onto public property. CBS Atlanta found several on public sidewalks and in the street. And even the ones on private property must be "placed or deposited in a manner reasonably designed to prevent the handbill from being blown or drifted about."

CBS Atlanta tried to ask officials at the AJC tough questions about the law, but were asked to turn off the cameras and leave the building. A spokesperson came outside to speak with the reporter, but said no one would be available to do an interview.

CBS Atlanta also contacted the Department of Public Works, which enforces the law, and officials there said they contacted the AJC, and if changes aren't made quickly, they'll start writing citations. Residents like Currie are skeptical.

"When the fliers start showing up on the porch, and not on the sidewalk or in the front yard, I'll believe it," said Currie.

In a written statement, AJC officials said they are working closely with local government and residents to comply with city ordinances.
=======================================

Almost gave up on the guy. I guess I should call the AJC and tell them that their spy was late for work!

Arrived 9:53, Left 4:05

Honda Civic BKL 344

I have a series of cameras keeping an eye on the street in front of my home in Kennesaw. Early last month I noticed some unusual activity in our quiet neighborhood. Cars sitting at the curb in front of my house with one individual in them, sitting there for hours at a time. I both photographed them and also called the local PD who responded twice to my calls and at least once to a neighbor across the street who must have also called in about the activity.

My initial thoughts were that it was some sort of private surveillance of a home in the subdivision, perhaps it was even Dog The Bounty Hunter Jr. My efforts to get info from the local PD were at first less than successful. Yesterday I emailed the Chief of Police Westenburger and this morning I got a personal call from him about what was going on.

The people/cars in front of my house were there courtesy of the AJC to keep an eye out for any misdelivery of their papers from the route carriers they use. I have 4 blogs critical of the AJC and have made a bit of a pest of myself so I guess it a case of 'the wheel that makes the most noise' getting some attention.

Obviously I am pleased to know that there is nothing sinister being investigated in my neighborhood and I am also a bit amazed that the AJC has gone to this extent to monitor their carriers. I will leave any editorial comments to others to make as I am still scratching my head over the information.

Top: On the job from 8:58 am to 12:53 pm, then lunch and back at 1:10 pm until 4:27 pm.

The photos here are not from my camera system but from a personal camera I used once the activity came to my notice via the fixed cameras.

The problem with a single guy sitting in front of someones house for 7 1/2 hours is that it attracts attention. Here is a neighbor who has his daughters with him asking the guy what he was up to.

Monday and Thursdays the Atlanta Journal Constitution supplies a watcher to sit in front of my house. Must be a boring job, but on this particular day it is suppose to be the hottest day of the summer.

Email addresses for AJC employees:
kyamanouchi@ajc.com, kwingfield@ajc.com, mwilliams@ajc.com, dwickert@ajc.com, hvogell@ajc.com, cvivlamore@ajc.com, svisser@ajc.com, jvejnoska@ajc.com, hunger@ajc.com, cynthia@ajc.com, ttucker@ajc.com, atuck@ajc.com, ctowers@ajc.com, ktorres@ajc.com, btorpy@ajc.com, rtramos@ajc.com, jtharpe@ajc.com, cteegardin@ajc.com, ttagami@ajc.com, kswartz@ajc.com, ksugiura@ajc.com, esuggs@ajc.com, estirgus@ajc.com, astevens@ajc.com, gstaples@ajc.com, lstafford@ajc.com, asimmons@ajc.com, mshaw@ajc.com, cseward@ajc.com, jlscott@ajc.com, jschultz@ajc.com, cschneider@ajc.com, jsarrio@ajc.com, jsalzer@ajc.com, mruggieri@ajc.com, broughton@ajc.com, crogers@ajc.com, droberson@ajc.com kriley@ajc.com, nrhone@ajc.com, jredmon@ajc.com, brankin@ajc.com, cquinn@ajc.com, jprovano@ajc.com, hpousner@ajc.com, spoole@ajc.com, mpell@ajc.com, lpeisner@ajc.com, speacocke@ajc.com, holiviero@ajc.com, dobrien@ajc.com, mmorris@ajc.com, jmcwilliams@ajc.com, rmckay@ajc.com, smcintosh@ajc.com, dmarkiewicz@ajc.com, jmallory@ajc.com, mlupo@ajc.com, mluckovich@ajc.com, kleslie@ajc.com, dledbetter@ajc.com, jkessler@ajc.com, mkempner@ajc.com, mkanell@ajc.com, ajudd@ajc.com, cjoyner@ajc.com, tjoyner@ajc.com, kdjohnson@ajc.com, aajackson@ajc.com, ahunt@ajc.com, shummer@ajc.com, rho@ajc.com, vhicks@ajc.com, ahart@ajc.com, bgray@ajc.com, rgrantham@ajc.com, agouldsheinin@ajc.com, mgarner@ajc.com, jgalloway@ajc.com, pfox@ajc.com, kfoskett@ajc.com, mewing@ajc.com, bemerson@ajc.com, jedwards@ajc.com, teberly@ajc.com, tduncan@ajc.com, mdowney@ajc.com, adodd@ajc.com, ldiamond@ajc.com, jhdavis@ajc.com, mrdavis@ajc.com, ldavidson@ajc.com, mcunningham@ajc.com, rcox@ajc.com, rcook@ajc.com, dchapman@ajc.com, mcarvell@ajc.com, tracybrown@ajc.com, abroady@ajc.com, jbrett@ajc.com, mbradley@ajc.com, cboone@ajc.com, jbookman@ajc.com, rbentley@ajc.com, rbadie@ajc.com, nbadertscher@ajc.com, janderson@ajc.com, sabramson@ajc.com, joelanderson12@gmail.com, aajackson@ajc.com, jtharpe@ajc.com, mwilliams@ajc.com, dmiller@ajc.com

The Atlanta Journal Constitution Sucks!

AJC Daily Circulation Drops Again:

You are now at my main AJC site!

2 Mailings being prepared

Here is one of the people responsible for tossing all this crap around Atlanta!

The AJC is back throwing their crap on my property again

Yeah, I've seen just how well this works-

Another BBB Complaint is filed:

Contact infor for the AJC

As a Consumer Issue . . .

More Problems with the Atlanta Journal Constitution

We need some Legal help, where are the activist lawyers in Georgia when you need one!

See, I told you the AJC Sucked!

Attn: Mr. Sandford H. Schwartz

As posted on the Atlanta Craigslist

Better Business Bureau Atlanta

1,700,000 Copies a Week of 'litter' on our streets!

Atlanta Man Video Tapes AJC Reach Delivery Woman

Post Cards are in and being sent out!

The latest outgoing post cards are to AJC advertisers:

AJC Promises to the BBB to STOP Dumping Their Advertising Sections on my Property are Broken!

Reply to my BBB Complaint

My Complaint:

Thurs. Feb. 18, 2010

Update -

BBB

Better Business Bureau Complaint

Time to STOP the AJC Litter!

Newspaper Ads Anger Residents