Changes

The St. Mary's Today is a tabloid-sized newspaper that is published in [[St. Mary's County, Maryland]]. The publisher is [[Kenneth C. Rossignol]]. The paper focuses on crime, law enforcement and local government, often acting as a watchdog. Sometimes affectionately referred to as "The Rag," an implication that the paper deals in yellow journalism."

1999-2005'''2007: ''' The newspaper paper and itRossignol are accused of racism after a cartoon appears that depicts 3 black males from P.G. County driving to St. Mary's publisher achieved national fame County to conduct armed robberies. The men are depicted in stereo-typical racist caricatures with wide noses, large lips, and dreadlocks. The cartoon was drawn by Calvert artist Billy Woodward, Jr. Woodward does artwork for what has become known as the [[publication on a contract basis.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/12/AR2005101200074.html |title=Tabloid Newspaper Caper]]'s Cartoon Incites Allegations of Racism |author=Megan Greenwell |date=2007-03-10 |publisher=Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/14/AR2007031400047. html |title=Caricature Is No Laughing Matter |author=Megan Greenwell |date=2007-03-15 |publisher=Washington Post}}</ref> The incident has become an important freedom In April 2007, SMT published a cartoon that appeared in the Post of speech casefour black basketball players that appeared to have the same characteristics that brought the SMT criticism for being racist.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stmarystoday.com/News/April07_TOP_NEWS.html |title=Post Features Racist Cartoon |author=Ken Rossignol |date=2007-04-?? |publisher=St. Mary's Today}}</ref>

'''2005: ''' St. Mary's Today won the competitive contract to publish the St. Mary's County Government advertisements. This privilege was long held by the [[Enterprise newspaperNewspaper|Enterprise]]. The Enterprise serves St. Mary's County and is owned by [[Southern Maryland Newspapers]]. That company is owned by [[Gazette Newspapers Inc. ]] which is a division of the [[Washington Post Company]]. Then County Commissioner President [[Thomas F.McKay]] was not pleased with the decision according to a story published in the Washington Post.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/12/AR2005101200074.html |title=Switch in St. Mary's Ad Contract Riles McKay |author=Joshua Partlow |date=2005-10-13 |publisher=Washington Post}}</ref>

County Commissioner President '''1999-2005:''' The newspaper and it's publisher achieved national fame for what has become known as the [[Thomas F. McKayNewspaper Caper]] was not pleased with the decision according to the following Washington Post story:. The incident has become an important freedom of speech case.

== Lawsuits == [[Kenneth C. Rossignol]] and/or St. Mary's Today have been sued several times, according to the Maryland Judiciary Case Search Database. *http:AHMAR MUSTI KHAN, former reporter, sued Rossignol on 2/5/www2007, case number 040300001832007.washingtonpostJudgment in favor of defendant.com * BRYAN JAFFE, former reporter, sued Rossignol on 7/wp-dyn6/content/article/2005/102006 for $4955, case number 040300008802005. Complaint dismissed by court. Jaffe went on to become the first editor for the [[County Times]]. == References == <references /12/AR2005101200074.html>

*[http://stmarystoday.com/Online Edition of St. Mary's Today]