Newsman Kent Brockman announces that Springfield’s most famous tourist attraction — a giant rock in the form of an old man smoking a pipe, known as Geezer Rock — will soon be a national landmark. The Simpsons attend the dedication ceremony, and as Lisa gazes at the mountain using a coin-operated viewing scope, she notices a large tree branch growing out of Geezer Rock’s “left eye.” Homer says the tree branch will ruin the rock, so he climbs up the mountain to rectify the situation. When he plucks out the tree branch, it causes a tiny crack to appear in the rock. The crack grows until the entire mountain shatters and crashes to the ground, burying Mr. Burns. A heartbroken Smithers declares that his beloved boss is dead. Later Lisa writes a poem about Geezer Rock and sends it to the local newspaper. When the newspaper fails to publish the poem, Marge suggests that Lisa start her own paper. Lisa loves the idea. Meanwhile it turns out that Mr. Burns wasn’t killed after all, but survived by eating whatever sustenance happened his way. Since the public is unaware of his escape, he turns on the television news to bask in his obituaries. Burns quickly realizes the town hated him. Realizing he hasn’t a friend in the world, Burns decides to launch “Operation Mayhem.”

Lisa’s newspaper is a huge hit, and people throughout Springfield love her poem about Geezer Rock. When people inquire about the next edition of the paper, it catches Lisa off-guard, as she’d only planned on making one. She quickly organizes a staff to help her write more articles. Meanwhile Mr. Burns uses his vast wealth to buy up all the media outlets in town. Once he’s through, he sets about recreating his image by insisting journalists write only positive things about him and the nuclear power plant. Lisa is outraged. She uses her newspaper to write a scathing article attacking Burns for trying to brainwash everyone into thinking like he thinks. When Mr. Burns reads Lisa’s article, he decides to buy out her paper. When Lisa won’t sell, he tempts her with the most adorable ponies imaginable, but Lisa holds her ground. When bribery fails, Burns threatens Lisa with his wrath.

As Homer drives Lisa and her newspaper staff around in the station wagon, a limo and a helicopter attempt to run them off the road. When those fail, a thug on a Segway scooter accomplishes the mission. Homer loses control of the car and crashes into a karate school, where Homer and the kids are karate-chopped. Fearing more retribution, Lisa’s staff decides to call it a day. Everyone quits except for Bart, who draws a political cartoon skewering Mr. Burns. When Burns sees the cartoon, he’s outraged. Smithers suggests there may be a nonviolent way to deal with Lisa. First Burns cuts the power to Lisa’s house, shutting down her computer. Principal Skinner comes to the rescue, offering Lisa the use of an old mimeo machine that’s hand-powered. Lisa manages to crank out another edition of the paper. Refusing to give up, Burns tries another tactic. He gives Homer some beer, then interviews him about Lisa’s likes and dislikes. The next day the Springfield Shopper publishes a story about Lisa, and prints unflattering quotes attributed to Homer. Homer claims he was quoted out of context, and insists he’s Lisa’s biggest fan. Lisa accepts what happened, and believes there’s nothing else Burns can do to her. Then she sees a billboard featuring actors who look like her and Milhouse. The billboard proclaims, “Lisa Loves Milhouse.” Lisa is aghast. She cranks out the final edition of her paper, the “I Give Up” edition. Homer responds by publishing his own newspaper, one that praises Lisa for all the good she does. Lisa is genuinely touched. Before long, people throughout town are publishing their own papers. Lisa couldn’t be prouder.