Despite my numerous warnings, newspaper companies continue to sign partnerships with the likes of Google and Yahoo that put their market reach in jeopardy. So here's the really tough question: Would you partner with Craigslist?

Let's say, just for the heck of it, that Craigslist is interested in upselling their advertisers into your printed publication. If you agree to the partnership, thousands of people who now place free ads online would be given the opportunity to pay a fee to appear in the printed pages of your newspaper.

It's a revenue-share plan, of course. But it obviously means the newspaper will have to promote Craigslist and its free advertising options within the printed pages of the newspaper. If the deal falls apart one day, the free marketing could leave irreparable effects in your local market.

Tough choice. I know. But you know what they say: "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em."

The premise to that ages-old expression should be taken seriously. It says IF you can't beat them. To start the discussion, let me say that I'd consider partnering with Craigslist if I worked for the underdog in the market whose real target was the larger newspaper(s). Get scrappy.

Otherwise, I've never believed it's impossible to beat the national competitors in the classifieds market. Obviously, newspaper executives disagree with me, having inked deals with numerous competitors. I'm sure these same folks would be all too eager to join hands with Craig Newmark.