AAN News
Is Dan Savage Really Running for Mayor?new
In a blog post on Monday titled "I'm Running for Mayor," The Stranger's editorial director threw his hat in the mayoral ring, saying "my entire platform is this: If elected I pledge to resign the office of mayor 24 hours after I'm sworn in." Seattle officials are trying to figure out if Savage is really mounting a run or just joking around. City rules say candidates must file paperwork with the city clerk within two weeks of publicly announcing an intention to run. "We've got to figure out whether he's serious or not," Ethics and Elections Commission chairman Wayne Barnett tells the Seattle Times.
The Seattle Times | The Stranger |
03-20-2009 9:36 am |
Industry News
More Business Owners Step Forward with Accusations Against Yelpnew
Following up on its story last month in which business owners said that sales reps from the popular user-generated review site promised to move or remove negative reviews in return for advertising, the East Bay Express talks to six more business owners who allege similar practices. Yelp CEO Jeremy Stoppelman complained about the original article's use of anonymous sources (even though "Yelp is a review site based entirely on anonymous sources," as reporter Kathleen Richards notes) so this time the Express relied only on sources who were willing to go on the record. "Several said that the reps would offer to move negative reviews if they advertised; and in some cases positive reviews disappeared when they refused, or negative ones appeared," the Express reports. "In one case, a nightclub owner said Yelp offered positive reviews of his business in exchange for free drinks."
East Bay Express |
03-19-2009 10:03 am |
Industry News
UPDATE: New Mexico Gov. Signs Bill Repealing Death Penaltynew
Santa Fe Reporter |
03-19-2009 11:03 am |
Industry News
SFR Interviews Alleged Killer as State Weighs Repeal of Death Penaltynew
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has until midnight to decide whether to sign a bill that would repeal the death penalty, and today the Santa Fe Reporter ran an exclusive interview with accused police killer Michael Astorga, who might face the death penalty if he's convicted. Last Friday, the Reporter teamed up with the New Mexico Independent to live-blog the state Senate as it debated the death penalty repeal.
Heath Haussamen on New Mexico Politics |
03-18-2009 4:51 pm |
Industry News
Tags: Editorial, Santa Fe Reporter
Ruling Expected Soon in Creative Loafing Bankruptcy Casenew
After hearing more testimony yesterday on whether CEO Ben Eason should retain control the six-paper chain or if it should be turned over to its biggest creditor Atayla Capital Management, Judge Caryl Delano Delano said she will ask both sides to submit written closing arguments, which she will mull over for several days before making a ruling. MORE: Read dispatches from former CL employees Ken Edelstein and Alex Pickett.
Creative Loafing (Tampa) |
03-18-2009 8:45 am |
Industry News
Willamette Week To Play Role in 'Ramona and Beezus'new
The upcoming film based on Beverly Cleary's classic children's book series will be set in Portland, but it is being shot in Vancouver, British Columbia. So how do the set designers hope to replicate Portland in Canada? With Willamette Week news boxes, of course. "The set design department contacted WW publisher Richard Meeker last week, requesting permission to create replicas of WW's blue boxes to use in their streetscapes," the alt-weekly reports. The film may also feature Ramona's dad looking for work via WW's classifieds.
Willamette Week |
03-18-2009 8:38 am |
Industry News
Forecast: Digital Ad Spend Only Bright Spot for Local Medianew
BIA Advisory Services and the Kelsey Group predict that U.S. local ad revenues will continue to decline through 2013. The only segment that is expected to grow in the next four years is local interactive, which includes mobile, local search, online verticals and classifieds, voice search and email marketing. BIA and Kelsey are forecasting revenue growth in that sector from $14 billion in 2008 to $32.1 billion in 2013.
The Center for Media Research |
03-17-2009 12:32 pm |
Industry News
PEJ: Alt-Weeklies 'Hardly Immune' to News Industry Strugglesnew
In its annual State of the News Media report, the Project for Excellence in Journalism says that alt-weeklies had a tough year in 2008, citing the Creative Loafing bankruptcy, among other things. The report says that alts in large markets "showed signs of stress" because "advertisers are finding alternatives to the alternatives," but notes that many alts in smaller markets seem to be weathering the economic storm.
The Project for Excellence in Journalism |
03-16-2009 10:42 am |
Industry News
Nielsen: Ad Market Dropped 2.6 Percent in '08new
The overall ad market was off despite the summer Olympics and record amounts spent on political advertising, Nielsen reports. Local newspapers saw a 10.2 percent drop, and display internet ads were off by 6.4 percent.
Media Daily News |
03-16-2009 9:25 am |
Industry News
Creative Loafing CEO Testifies in Bankruptcy Proceedingsnew
Ben Eason testified yesterday during a hearing to determine whether he will be able to maintain ownership of the six-newspaper chain or if it will be handed over to CL's largest creditor. According to Wayne Garcia, much of Eason's testimony related to the digital transformation of CL and the struggles of the print publishing industry. On Tuesday, CL's chief financial officer and its valuation expert are scheduled to testify. The judge will then rule on who gets control of the company, Garcia reports.
Creative Loafing (Tampa) |
03-13-2009 1:27 pm |
Industry News
Man Who Allegedly Stole Pasadena Weekly News Boxes Arrestednew
Pasadena police say they arrested a 26-year-old man on suspicion of grand theft yesterday. They think he's responsible for stealing 18 Pasadena Weekly news boxes over the past few months. The boxes, which are bolted to the ground, may have been stolen for their metal, cops say. MORE: In other thievery news, Las Vegas CityLife reports that a bill is being considered in Nevada that would make taking more than 10 copies of a free newspaper a misdemeanor.
Pasadena Star-News |
03-13-2009 9:10 am |
Industry News
Willamette Week Introduces Cost-Cutting Measuresnew
The Portland, Ore., alt-weekly was the latest to announce company-wide salary reductions yesterday. Effective March 16, staff pay will be reduced by 8 percent, while owners Mark Zusman and Richard Meeker will reduce their own pay by 25 percent. The move was made to keep the paper profitable for the balance of 2009. At the same meeting, Meeker, who is WW's publisher, announced that this week's paper was the largest since November and that ad sales for the spring appear ahead of budget.
Willamette Week |
03-13-2009 8:54 am |
Industry News
Study: Twitter Driving Traffic To Social, Entertainment Sitesnew
Online Media Daily |
03-13-2009 9:27 am |
Industry News
Chicago Reader Redesigns Websitenew
Chicago Reader |
03-13-2009 9:26 am |
Industry News
FOIA Ombudsman Gets $1 Million in New Budgetnew
The budget President Obama just signed includes $1 million for the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS), which will mediate disputes over FOIA requests and act as a government-wide ombudsman for FOIA issues. The budget also houses OGIS in the National Archives, not the Department of Justice, where the Bush administration had attempted to place it. "OGIS should help end stalemates and lengthy delays when faced with controversies over disclosure decisions," Rick Blum, coordinator of the Sunshine in Government Initiative, tells Broadcasting & Cable. "This investment will help agencies strengthen their responses to FOIA requests."
Columbia Journalism Review | Broadcasting & Cable |
03-12-2009 2:06 pm |
Industry News
Tags: Editorial, Management
