Opinion ID: 1819941
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Whether The Appeal is a separate newspaper from The Commercial Appeal.

Text: ¶ 12. When reviewing questions of law, this Court employs a de novo standard of review and will only reverse for an erroneous interpretation or application of the law. Gannett River States Publ'g Corp. v. City of Jackson, 866 So.2d 462, 465 (Miss.2004) (citing Morgan v. West, 812 So.2d 987, 990 (Miss.2002)). ¶ 13. The Times argues that the trial court erred by applying Section 13-3-31 before first determining whether The Appeal is simply a section or insert of The Commercial Appeal. In its ruling, the trial court found that whether [ The Appeal ] is a separate newspaper from the Commercial Appeal [sic] is irrelevant to the determination of whether [ The Appeal ] qualifies under [Section 13-3-31]. . . so long as the requirements of the statute are met. ¶ 14. In order to satisfy the requirements of Section 13-3-31, a newspaper must either independently satisfy the statute, or be a section of a larger newspaper which meets those requirements. See Gannett River States Publ'g Corp. v. Jackson Advocate, 856 So.2d 247 (Miss.2003). The trial court found that The Appeal independently meets the requirements of Section 13-3-31. Accordingly, the issue of whether or not The Appeal is a separate newspaper is rendered moot.