AAN News
The Village Voice Obtains, Publishes Secret NYPD Tapesnew
For more than a year, a Brooklyn police officer secretly recorded his fellow officers and superiors and those tapes have now been obtained by writer Graham Rayman and published by the Village Voice. "They provide an incredible composite into the goings-on of those entrusted with the law, the ones New Yorkers don't know about, and the ones they would definitely want to," Voice blogger Foster Kamer writes. "And the results are as astounding as they are infuriating." The Washington Post's Story Lab agrees, saying the tapes and the story "[capture] a rare look inside the New York City police department. ... Taken together, the recordings provide an intimate look into a place that has been for the most part hidden from the media and the public."
The Village Voice |
05-07-2010 3:23 pm |
Industry News
After Alt-Weekly's Letter, First Amendment Group Sues L.A.new
On April 28, the California First Amendment Coalition (CFAC) filed a legal complaint against Los Angeles after the council refused to "cure and correct" an inadequately noticed Feb. 18 agenda item that called for 4,000 city workers and positions to be cut. This complaint follows a letter sent by Random Lengths News publisher James Preston Allen to City Council president Garcetti and City Attorney Carmen Trutanich protesting what his paper believes to be a violation of the Brown Act. After Garcetti and Trutanich failed to respond, Allen contacted CFAC, which decided to file suit.
Random Lengths News (via AltWeeklies.com) |
05-07-2010 2:35 pm |
Industry News
Phoenix Media Lays Off 10, Including Some Top Employees
Phoenix Media/Communications Group, which owns the Boston, Portland and Providence Phoenix papers, has let ten employees go. The layoffs include CFO/COO Richard Gallagher; corporate controller Michael Notkin and assistant corporate controller Chris Crandall. The Weekly Dig broke the news of the changes yesterday when it published a staff memo sent by Phoenix Media president Bradley Mindich, which says Mindich will take over some of Gallagher's duties, while Mike Fuller will take on the interim CFO/COO role as they search for a replacement. "This is the sort of strategic reshuffle that prudent companies engage in to stay on top in demanding markets," Phoenix executive editor Peter Kadzis says in a statement released last night. His comments are echoed by Mindich, who tells AAN News in an email that Phoenix Media is focused on "performance across the board" and "ensuring we have the best of the best here to continue to execute our multi-platform strategy." MORE from the Boston Herald.
Boston's Weekly Dig | Boston Herald |
05-07-2010 8:00 am |
Industry News
Senate Passes Amendment Designed to Speed Up FOIA Responsenew
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |
05-07-2010 1:58 pm |
Industry News
Tags: Editorial
Treme Character Works for the Village Voicenew
David Simon, whose harsh portrayal of the Baltimore Sun in The Wire caused a minor stir in media circles a few years ago, is back with a new HBO series, Treme, which also features a reporter character: Jill, a Village Voice reporter played by Danai Gurira. "We'd hope for an honest portrayal of what it's like to work at the Village Voice, and we got one," the Voice's Foster Kamer writes. The character "is first greeted at an awesome, hopping party (which we all go to, nightly) by legendary Jazz critic (and Voice alum) Stanley Crouch, and told how great a piece she wrote was. It happens. She's then greeted by another legendary cultural critic, Nelson George, and asked how the Village Voice is treating her. She replies in the ambivalent-affirmative ("Ehh. Good enough.") thus accurately conforming to Page 121, Paragraph 3, Section A of the Village Voice Media Holdings, LLC employee handbook."
The Village Voice |
05-06-2010 3:51 pm |
Industry News
It's Official: Scientologists are Creative Loafing (Tampa)'s New Landlordsnew
As we noted two days ago, the local branch of the Church of Scientology was in talks to buy the building that Creative Loafing recently settled into in Tampa's Ybor Square area. This morning CL's David Warner is reporting that the building was indeed sold to the church, per a letter sent last night to CL's CFO.
Creative Loafing (Tampa) |
05-06-2010 2:27 pm |
Industry News
Sacramento News & Review Selling Lots of Medical Marijuana Adsnew
With medical marijuana dispensaries growing like pot plants in all areas of California, the business has become quite competitive in areas like Sacramento, KCRA-TV reports. To get ahead, many shops are advertising in the Sacramento News & Review, where the TV station reports there are many ads that include perks like free lighters and delivers, and even free grams. While the daily Sacramento Bee and more conservative Sacramento Magazine don't run dispensary ads, News & Review CEO Jeff von Kaenel says he's got no problem with doing so, adding that about 15 percent of the paper's ads are currently medical marijuana-related. "It reflects the values we have at the News & Review," he says. "We let our readers make up their own minds about things. They're mature enough, and we don't want to be a censor of business in Sacramento."
KCRA-TV |
05-05-2010 2:27 pm |
Industry News
VVM Underwriting Legal Challenge to Arizona Immigration Lawnew
In a note to readers published last week in Phoenix New Times, Village Voice Media executive editor Michael Lacey and CEO Jim Larkin say that VVM is underwriting the cost of the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona's forthcoming litigation against the state's new and controversial immigration law, would make the failure to carry immigration documents a crime and give police broad power to detain anyone suspected of being an illegal immigrant. "Arizona has chosen to insist that all law enforcement in the state adopt the police-state tactics of infamous Sheriff Joe Arpaio," write Lacey and Larkin, who both have been the target of Arpaio, before inviting New Times readers to chip in to help the ACLU fight the new law. "We would like to extend an invitation to you, our readers, to join in this struggle against the cracker policies of Arizona politicians and certain elements within law enforcement typified by Sheriff Arapio."
Phoenix New Times |
05-05-2010 10:06 am |
Industry News
Video Goes Behind the Scenes at Monterey County Weeklynew
This new video shot by film production company Fire Productions captures three days in the life of the Weekly, from Tuesday's deadline day (for the paper's annual Best Of issue, no less) to Wednesday at the printer and Thursday as the Weekly hits the streets.
Monterey County Weekly |
05-04-2010 3:02 pm |
Industry News
Tags: Management, Monterey County Weekly
Church of Scientology Could be Creative Loafing (Tampa)'s New Landlordnew
Just as CL settles into its new permanent office space in a historic former cigar factory in Tampa's Ybor Square, the alt-weekly has learned that The Church of Scientology is looking to purchase the building from its current owner. The paper, which signed a 5-year lease for the new digs last fall, wasn't aware that the building was to be sold. "If the deal does come to fruition, Creative Loafing will enjoy, if that's the word, a unique vantage point: a next-door-neighbor's view of what goes on at the Tampa facilities of one of the most controversial religious organizations in the world," CL editor David Warner writes.
Creative Loafing (Tampa) |
05-04-2010 11:23 am |
Industry News
Fake Bruce Brugmann Now on Twitternew
The fake Twitter stream of San Francisco Bay Guardian publisher Bruce Brugmann is "drunken, outrageous, [and] rails against Village Voice Media executive editor Mike Lacey," the SF Weekly reports. "Once upon a time, if you wanted to roast your newspaper editor, you would make a drunken speech at an office party or draw a funny cartoon," the Weekly notes. "But that was back in the bad old days, before fake Twitter accounts created the perfect medium for a constant stream of homage/mockery." The Weekly adds that it is not behind the account, which has the handle "Bossy_Brugmann," despite its ongoing public battles with the Guardian and its founder.
SF Weekly |
05-04-2010 10:37 am |
Industry News
North Coast Journal Launches Redesigned Websitenew
The Journal's new site, which went live May 1, "is a top-down and head-to-toe revision of our most recent site, which was circa 2007," editor Hank Sims explains in a note to readers. The design work was done by Portland's Topaz Design, and the CSS was done by Slice 'n' Dice.
North Coast Journal |
05-04-2010 10:26 am |
Industry News
Former Phoenix New Times Staff Writer Running for U.S. Senatenew
John Dougherty, who left New Times in August 2006, says he has filed documents with the Federal Elections Commission as a first step to run in the upcoming Democratic primary for a U.S. Senate seat. New Times reports that, if he collects enough signatures to get on the ballot, Dougherty will be matched against two other Democratic hopefuls before potentially facing off with the winner of the Republican primary battle between incumbent John McCain and J.D. Hayworth. "This will be a great exercise in the regular folks standing up and saying, 'Enough of this bullshit,'" Dougherty says. "We're going to try to make the debate more than just about rounding up people and tossing them back across the border and thinking that will solve everything, including our economic crisis."
Phoenix New Times |
05-03-2010 2:08 pm |
Industry News
San Diego Reader Accuses Printer of Fraudnew
Just months after San Dieguito Printers filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit against the Reader, publisher Jim Holman has filed a cross-complaint against the printer, alleging that it has been profiting off the Reader to the tune of $1 million per year, despite telling Holman its rates were the lowest possible it could charge while still making a minimal profit.
San Diego CityBeat |
04-29-2010 2:39 pm |
Industry News
Gambit Celebrates Its 22nd Annual Big Easy Music & Theater Awards
Each year, Gambit throws a party to announce the winners of its Big Easy Awards, which honor the best in New Orleans theater and music. This year's attendees included New Orleans actors Harry Shearer (The Simpsons), Bryan Batt (Mad Men) and John Goodman (Treme), along with local musicians including Dr. John, Kermit Ruffins, Phil Anselmo (Pantera, Down), Irma Thomas, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews and the Imagination Movers.
Gambit |
04-28-2010 9:48 am |
Industry News
