“The Newspaper That Can’t Be Bought” (Village Voice)
The Village Voice weekly newspaper first published on October 26, 1955. In April 1996, the Village Voice became free.
The Village Voice announced the free newspaper policy with a new slogan: “The Newspaper That Can’t Be Bought.”
Wikipedia: The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper in New York City, United States featuring investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts reviews and events listings for New York City. It is also distributed throughout the United States on a pay basis.
It was the first and is arguably the best known of the arts-oriented tabloids that have come to be known as alternative weeklies, though its reputation has been unstable since a recent buyout by publishing conglomerate New Times Media. The turbulent times its writers have covered have often been matched by the intrigue in its own offices, most recently including the firing of several high-profile contributors and a scandal over a fabricated story in 2005, the year the paper turned 50. The Voice’s spirit can be captured in its 1980s advertising slogan: “Some people swear by us…other people swear AT us.”
11 April 1996, Newsday (Long Island, NY), “Ink” by Paul D. Colford, pt. 2, pg. B2:
“The Newspaper That Can’t Be Bought”: So say the new, red curbside boxes that contain free—yes, free—copies of the Village Voice.
25 April 1996, Los Angeles (CA) Times, “The Free Village Voice Is One Hot Newspaper in Manhattan” by Paul D. Colford, Life & Style section, pg. 3:
The Village Voice, which now calls itself “The Newspaper That Can’t Be Bought,” is also a newspaper that can’t be found. Since the weekly switched to free distribution in Manhattan two weeks ago—and more than doubled circulation in the borough, to 150,000—spot checks throughout Midtown have found many of the paper’s new curbside boxes empty from Day One.
Village Voice Special (October 18, 2005)
1996
“The Newspaper that can’t be bought!” The Village Voice is now distributed free in Manhattan (newsstand price was $1.25) and circulation increases to 230,000. Red newspaper boxes spring up on city streets.