In his competition with Bradford, Franklin had one big disadvantage. Bradford was the postmaster of Philadelphia, and he used that position to deny Franklin the right, at least officially, to send his Gazette through the mail. Their ensuing struggle over the issue of open carriage was an early example of the tension that often still exists between those who create content and those who control distribution systems.
Franklin faced a significant hurdle in his rivalry with Bradford, primarily because Bradford held the position of Philadelphia's postmaster. This role allowed Bradford to leverage his power to restrict Franklin's ability to send his Gazette via the mail, impacting its distribution. Their conflict highlights the challenges that creators often encounter when dealing with those who have authority over distribution channels.
This struggle between Franklin and Bradford exemplifies a broader theme that continues to resonate today: the friction between content creators and distributors. It reflects the ongoing issues of accessibility and control in the dissemination of information, showcasing an early example of the tension that has persisted in various forms throughout history.
