No names in bitches. That includes names of businesses. When you make a criminal allegation against a business— e.g., a bar letting in under-age drinkers, a health club stealing membership money, a vet purposely killing animals, etc.– we’d have to investigate and report fairly on the allegation. Frankly, we don’t have the time and/or resources for each of these. If you want these allegations to move forward in the press, file a lawsuit, with your name attached, and *that* will get covered.
This article appears in Mar 27 – Apr 2, 2008.
I don’t understand why the Coast doesn’t simply put a disclaimer on this section which would solve the liability that you claim is the reason for the no-name rule. Or is the real reason that you are scared advertisers/potential advertisers might actually have to answer for their shady business practices if they get named. The Coast is the only paper I’ve seen that won’t allow company names to be mentioned.