AAN News
SF Weekly and Bay Guardian Argue Weekly's Motion for New Trial
The two papers were in San Francisco Superior Court on Tuesday to argue the Weekly's motion for a new trial and its request that the judge overturn a jury verdict in the predatory-pricing suit. Judge Marla Miller has until July 18 to rule on the motions; if she rules against the Weekly, it will take the case to the California Court of Appeals. In dueling blog posts, the Weekly lays out the four chief arguments put forth by its lawyers and pokes a little fun at the Guardian's lawyers, while the Guardian details the Weekly's "at times highly technical" arguments, which "hinged on the finer points of the definitions of words."
SF Weekly | San Francisco Bay Guardian |
07-10-2008 10:01 am |
Industry News
Nearly Two Years After Jackson Free Press Story, Mayor is Indictednew
Mayor Frank Melton and two of his bodyguards have been indicted by a federal grand jury for demolishing an alleged "drug house" in Aug. 2006, a story first reported by the Jackson Free Press in Sept. 2006. "The three men were charged in connection with a conspiracy to tear down a private home in Jackson and thereby violate the civil rights of the owner and resident of that home," a Department of Justice press release reads. They are also charged with using a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. Melton, who is running for a second term, tells the Clarion-Ledger that he's "very disappointed, because I have worked so hard on fighting crime in this city."
Jackson Free Press |
07-10-2008 9:37 am |
Industry News
The Independent Weekly's Editor Leaves for Politicsnew
Scott Jordan is leaving the Lafayette, La., paper at the end of the month to become communications director for the Louisiana Democratic Party. Prior to joining the Independent at its inception, he worked at Gambit Weekly for five years. "This fall's elections, both statewide and national, promise to be historic," Jordan says. "And after 15 years of working as a journalist and editor, I've decided I want to be directly involved in politics in a different role." Kevin Allman, blogging for the Gambit, congratulates Jordan on his new role, and adds: "We hope never to have to write 'Scott Jordan, spokesman for the state Democratic party, did not respond to a request for comment.'"
The Independent Weekly |
07-10-2008 8:44 am |
Industry News
Cincinnati CityBeat Files Federal Suit Against Coalition Groupnew
CityBeat has filed a federal lawsuit against a number of local government officials and a coalition of local religious and nonprofit leaders led by Citizens for Community Values (CCV) who last month publicly asked the paper to stop publishing adult-oriented classified ads. The suit charges the coalition with violating the paper's First Amendment rights, conspiracy to violate its First Amendment rights and tortious interference with its business relationships. "When government officials use their position of authority to threaten a media organization with implied legal action unless a certain demand is met, that's wrong. And when CCV, ministers and nonprofit leaders conspire with government officials to threaten the media, they're wrong, too," writes CityBeat co-publisher and editor John Fox. "We've decided the only way to prevent permanent damage to our business is to ask a federal judge to intercede on our behalf and protect our right to exist."
Cincinnati CityBeat |
07-09-2008 11:36 am |
Industry News
States and Publishers Fight Theft of Free Newspapersnew
In a story on the increased theft of curbside refuse and free newspapers, the Associated Press reports that legislation being considered in California "would make large-scale, anonymous recycling more difficult." The legislation, which was championed by the East Bay Express, the San Francisco Bay Guardian, and other Bay Area publishers, would force recyclers to require a photo ID for anyone bringing in more than $50 worth of cans, bottles or newspapers and to pay the poachers with checks rather than cash. The AP also notes that the Express hired an ex-police detective to stake out thieves and began retrofitting curbside news boxes to make them theft-resistant. "We don't want to be spending all our energy printing papers that people take directly to the recyclers," Express president Hal Brody says.
The Associated Press |
07-09-2008 8:47 am |
Industry News
Faced With 'Pretty Flat' Ad Revenue, Isthmus Considers Possible Layoffsnew
The Madison, Wis., alt-weekly is "looking at ways to reduce expenses like everybody has to," publisher Vince O'Hern tells the Capital Times. "Nothing is decided. It may involve some people taking leaves, and some people not being on staff anymore." News editor Bill Lueders says A&E editor Dean Robbins will take an unpaid six-month leave to tend to "personal projects and other work." Other than that, he says talk of any staff changes is premature. Isthmus employs 10 editorial staffers, and the total staff size is about three dozen, according to Lueders.
The Capital Times |
07-09-2008 8:22 am |
Industry News
Leading Analyst Lowers 2008 Ad Spending Forecast Againnew
The New York Times |
07-09-2008 10:05 am |
Industry News
Santa Fe Will Test Out Modular Newsracksnew
The city will begin with one rack at City Hall, and then will accept public input before making a decision on extending the program to all city-owned property and right-of-ways (including sidewalks), according to Santa Fe Reporter columnist Zane Fischer. He argues that the program is a waste of time and money, and that the modular racks -- not individual news boxes -- are the real eyesores. "The neatness purchased by such an investment tends toward homogeneity rather than beauty," Fischer writes. "Santa Fe's dedication to retaining its distinctive appearance has been so enormous over the past century -- and its resistance to architectural progress remains so formidable -- that there is sad irony to be found in watching its difference be chipped away by small, aesthetic technicalities."
Santa Fe Reporter |
07-08-2008 8:12 am |
Industry News
Nielsen: Two-Thirds of US Internet Users Watched Online Video in Maynew
The New York Times |
07-08-2008 11:00 am |
Industry News
More on the Free Times/Scene Mergernew
"The idea, of course, is that with no competition to siphon off advertisers or keep ad prices rock-bottom, one alt-weekly might accomplish what the Free Times and Scene couldn't: make enough money to survive," Scene managing editor Joe Tone says of the recently announced merger. "And it's hard to bemoan the consolidation. Had they not become one, the two papers would have eventually become none." However, Tone notes that, for now, Cleveland "will lose some journalists." In addition to former editor Pete Kotz, who has already left for Nashville, Tone says staff writer Lisa Rab and food critic Elaine Cicora have departed. Frank Lewis, who last week was named the new paper's editor, reports on the Free Times blog that the other managers have been named. Sean Misutka and Joe Strailey have been plucked from the Scene to be ad sales manager and classified sales manager, respectively. And three additional Free Times managers have found homes at the new paper: Steve Antol is the circulation manager; Tim Divis is the business manager, and Steve Miluch is the production manager.
Scene | Cleveland Free Times |
07-07-2008 11:39 am |
Industry News
LA Weekly Co-founder Pete Kameron Diesnew
The entrepreneur and philanthropist died peacefully on June 29 at the age of 87 at his home in Beverly Hills. He was a principal original investor in the Weekly, served as chairman for many years, and also co-founded LA Style as a sister publication in the 1980s. "Without Pete Kameron, LA Weekly probably wouldn't exist," writes former Weekly publisher Michael Sigman. "And instead of spending 19 years at the paper, I might not have lasted three months."
LA Weekly |
07-07-2008 9:18 am |
Industry News
Tags: Management, L.A. Weekly
Cleveland Free Times Editor Will Take Helm at the New Scene
AAN News has learned that Frank Lewis has been named the editor of the Scene, which is being merged with the Free Times by new owners Times-Shamrock on July 23. The announcement was made to the two staffs yesterday. Former Scene editor Pete Kotz began his tenure as editor of the Nashville Scene this week. Lewis joined the Free Times in 2005 after serving as the Scene's managing editor. Before that, he spent close to seven years at the Philadelphia City Paper.
AAN News |
07-03-2008 11:57 am |
Industry News
Former Hawaii Island Journal Editor Testifies About Paper's Closingnew
Peter Serafin spoke before the Hawaii County Planning Committee on Tuesday regarding the details of the Journal's recent closing. He said that a major source of financial difficulty for the Journal was that it had to be printed in Honolulu at the Star-Bulletin press, not on the island of Hawaii. "Stephens Media owns the only two Web presses on this island," Serafin testified. The Journal approached Stephens about getting the paper printed there, but their response was, "We'll only print the Journal if you sell us a controlling interest," he said. Serafin also said the paper was hurt by Stephens' launch of "Big Island Weekly, a copycat paper specifically created to drive the Journal out of business." He said that the Weekly sold ad space below cost in an effort to kill the Journal, and compared the situation in Hawaii to the one in San Francisco, where a jury ruled in favor of the Bay Guardian in its predatory-pricing suit against SF Weekly.
HunterBishop.com |
07-03-2008 11:25 am |
Industry News
One Chain Restauranteur on Why He Uses Alt-Weeklies to Hire GMsnew
The trade magazine Chain Leader talks to a number of "upstart operators" of chain food businesses, who "share their tactics for recruiting and retaining general managers as they grow." Matt Phillips, the founder, president and CEO of California-based Blendz, says he buys ads in the center of alt-weeklies to find GMs. "It does a dual purpose. It obviously is branding, whether it's an offer or a special that you're promoting," he explains. "But it also gives you the ability to say 'Now hiring. Looking for great people.' And it's in a unique position in the newspaper that people aren't necessarily expecting it, but everybody is looking at because they're looking at what to do that weekend or where's the new hot restaurant to go to."
Chain Leader Magazine |
07-02-2008 12:33 pm |
Industry News
Universal Press Syndicate to Roll Out Animated Comics for News Sitesnew
Editor & Publisher |
07-02-2008 9:28 am |
Industry News
