LaVarr Webb, a lobbyist and former policy deputy for Gov. Mike Leavitt, figured newspaper readers would be a rich potential audience for his online news service Utah Policy Daily, http://www.utahpolicy.com.

And, at first, Webb says he was welcomed by Newspaper Agency Corp. that under a joint operating agreement sells advertising for The Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret Morning News.

An NAC salesman quoted him a $320 annual rate for his 2-inch Utah Policy ad. NAC graphic artists even produced an ad for him.

But before the ad could run, Webb got an e-mail informing him that his ad was "political," and he would have to pay a different rate - $117,000 per year.

"That was a whole lot more than I could afford," Webb wrote in his blog, "especially since [the Web site] is not bringing in any revenue and I've done it mostly as a hobby."

Besides, he says, the only thing "political" in the ad are the words: "Are you a political junkie?"

But before he could react, Webb was bewildered by yet another e-mail that flat out refused his ad.

Thinking that like media could co-exist, Webb asked if he could advertise in the online versions of The Tribune. NAC rejected that, too.

"They easily could have gotten rid of me by saying they would have to charge the political rate," says Webb, a former Deseret News managing editor. "Instead they come back and say, 'We won't take your ad at all.' But don't explain why."

NAC's advertising vice president Greig Smith also refused to explain the decision to The Tribune, saying only that the NAC "reserves the right to reject or deny any advertising."

Smith acknowledged that NAC takes advertising from other media, such as television and radio, that compete with The Tribune and the Deseret News. "We run advertising from many different sources and many of them are other media."

NAC president Harry Whipple also refused to discuss the rejection, saying, "You have the explanation."

Tribune publisher Dean Singleton, who is chairman of the NAC board, said he had heard nothing about the matter, but found it curious.

So, too, did Webb. "Maybe its old media versus new media. But I doubt that thought went through their minds," says Webb. "Maybe it's just old-fashioned arrogance."

Webb is amused that NAC apparently finds public policy more objectionable than similar-sized ads for escort services (For example: "Barely 18 & Very Hot!"), which run in The Tribune.

"What am I? Chopped liver? I need to start an escort service or a massage parlor so I can advertise with the Salt Lake newspapers?"

glenwarchol@sltrib.com