Craigslist chief executive Jim Buckmaster is accusing US newspapers of portraying the online classifieds site in a negative light, reports The Guardian.

Buckmaster asserts newspaper coverage of craigslist has changed over the years as the site's position in relation to those papers has changed. While they were once portrayed as a vibrant internet startup, now they are cast in more disparaging terms, likely in relation to slumping classifieds among newspapers.

Compared to traditional newspaper classified buys, the craigslist site — with its instant publishing capabilities, low rate and broader reach — has been a boon to job seekers and providers.