trader

TDN was launched last year by the local Gannett daily, The Greenville News, and now controls about 400 retail locations in the area. Many of those retailers had previously distributed now-defunct AAN member MetroBeat for free, but when TDN took over, MetroBeat was forced out, making way for Gannett's faux-alt Link, and several other free publications. Alt-weeklies across the country are increasingly facing similar exclusive rack programs operated by large companies like Trader and DistribuTech. Marty Levine reports on how some AAN papers are working around -- or making the most of -- the arrangement.