The ad rates for all major newspapers are set based on "audited" circulation figures. Free subscriptions are supposed to be separately counted than paid subscriptions. A number of newspapers have had frauds in that area recently, and staffers have been fired over that.
You may have just observed a tiny corner of a fraud at the L.A. Times which could cause people to get fired, and ad rates to drop, at that "worthy" organization. LOL.
Congressman Billybob
Latest column: "Another Ignorant Actor Spouts Off"