Wire service. Ricky talked to his local newspaper, they put it on the wire, and other papers picked up on it from there.

Earlier someone asked why the media had not been reporting the Playboy find, and I said that there's only two ways to get the media onto this story - either someone has to call them , or someone has to issue a press release. The media seldom takes the initiative on its own, at least not if there no blood involved. Clearly Ricky and Archie took the initiative of contacting their local newspapers.

Once a single media outlet picks up on it, other local media will generally write or broadcast a story (our local channel 2 morning newscast in Detroit is comprised 50% of reading stories from that morning's Detroit Free Press, although in recent years at least they don't actually show the newspaper on-screen as they recite the stories). Newspaper and TV writers and editors read and watch what the competition is doing, and often you will see similar stories 2 to 3 days later. In addition, if the newspaper or TV station thinks the story may have broader appeal, they will put it on the wire service, where out-of-town media can pick up the story. That's what's happening here. Ricky - and Archie, if his original story gets picked up - could easily gain additional national exposure. What's interesting is that small-town papers starving for news stories will often pick up these wire service stories, so if you are quoted in a story you may find later that your quotes have appeared in northern Minnesota or similar remote parts of the country.