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Craigslist sued over racially biased ads

The San Francisco-based Web site Craigslist is being sued in Chicago for running ads such as: “Non-women of Color NEED NOT APPLY”; “African Americans and Arabians tend to clash with me so that won’t work out”; and “Requirements: Clean Godly Christian Male.” A story by Chicago Tribune reporter Mike Hughlett said the federal suit is an attempt by housing watchdogs to hold online classified sites to the same strict standards as newspapers. Craigslist, founded 10 years ago by computer programmer Craig Newmark (pictured), said that completely screening its vast classified listings before they are posted would be “physically impossible” for the 19-employee company. Craigslist has been accused of eroding classified ad revenues, forcing cut backs at major newspapers. A 2004 study by consultant Classified Intelligence said the Web site has cost Bay Area newspapers $50-65 million in annual revenues for employment ads.

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