I remember first writing about this topic early in the Internet era.
Back then, newspapers began to worry that local governments might stop
using them to publish legal notices, and instead use the Internet.
Well, it took a while, but it appears that the time is now right for
governments to start saving money on printed legal notices and instead
publish them on their own websites.
In New York, the Rockland Legislature has decided not to use the Rockland Journal News and the Rockland County Times for its legal notices, but rather to publish them on the county’s website.
Traditionally, counties and municipalities pick a local newspaper to
publish these public announcements. Rockland County will shorten its
newspaper ads and post full legal text on the site, which is likely to
save the county thousands of dollars a year in advertising costs.
According to this Associated Press story, from 2000 to 2005, the county spent $157,200 advertising in newspapers.
This was one of those things that was certain to happen eventually.
Now, enough people use the Internet to make it the preferred medium for
legal notices. County residents without computer access will be told in
the shortened newspaper advertisements to call the Legislature and a
copy of the legal notice will be mailed to them.
Most newspapers will endure the loss of legal-notice revenues, if they haven’t already, soon.
