Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Governance Media topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Opelousas postpones designation of official newspaper after debate over print subscribers
Summary
Council delayed deciding whether to keep The Daily World as the official journal or designate a local online outlet as an alternative, citing state statutory requirements for a printed paper and paid circulation; The Daily World remains the official journal until the next meeting.
The Opelousas City Council on Jan. 14 postponed action on designating an official newspaper for 2025 after a lengthy discussion about whether an online news site could serve as the city’s official journal.
Publishers and council members debated state requirements for an official journal: the council’s attorney read language from the state statute that an official newspaper must have a website, be regularly published (not less than weekly) and maintain a general paid circulation of bona fide subscribers in the required area. Publisher representatives offered to serve as an alternative outlet for posting agendas and minutes for a monthly fee; one publisher said his outlet could publish agendas in advance and would charge $75 per month to host the city’s agendas and minutes.
City Attorney (referred to in discussion as Mr. Baudoin) advised the council that an online-only publication without paid subscribers may not meet the statutory test for an official journal. After discussion, the council agreed to leave The Daily World as the city’s official journal for now and to revisit the designation at the next meeting; the matter was postponed to give the clerk and attorney time to review the legal questions and to provide a recommendation.
No final change was made at the meeting; the Daily World remains the city’s official printed journal until the matter is revisited.
