AAN News
Alt-Weekly Cartoonist Talks 'Maakies,' 'Drinky Crow'new
The Drinky Crow Show, based on Tony Millionaire's "Maakies" comic strip, hit The Cartoon Network's Adult Swim Sunday night. He tells the New York Times that after he started to draw the characters in exchange for beer at a Brooklyn bar, the New York Press eventually picked up the strip for $25 a week. "Maakies," which now runs in other alt-weeklies, remains the driving force behind Millionaire's creative output, even as he branches out into TV and books. "Without it I'd still be a bum, I'd still be drawing houses," he says. "I needed a deadline. That's the code of the cartoonist: make the deadline." He also explains to Baltimore City Paper why the TV show doesn't share the strip's name: "Maakies" works better visually than aurally. "But 'Drinky Crow' is a word that's very catchy, everybody loves to say 'Drinky Crow.' Little kids love to say 'Drinky Crow.'"
The New York Times |
05-16-2007 11:51 am |
Industry News
Tags: Design & Production, Management
Popular Consultant to Address Alt-Weekly Management Challenges
Given their unique organizational cultures, hiring and retaining staff at AAN papers presents a distinct set of challenges. Laura Dell, who serves as a management consultant for several alt-weeklies, understands what's at stake as well as anyone. Following several highly rated presentations at the last two AAN conventions, Dell returns for an double encore this year in Portland. She'll help publishers and senior managers hire the right people ("Smart Hiring: Attracting and Capturing the Best"), and she'll work with editors to increase staff motivation and productivity ("Talent Management: Directing and Energizing Editorial Staff").
PortlAANd 2007 |
05-14-2007 5:58 pm |
Association News
Keith Olbermann Presented With First Annual Molly Ivins Award
At a midday reception in New York last Wednesday, Olbermann accepted the award from AAN president and Memphis Flyer publisher Ken Neill. Olbermann spoke of the crucial role that alt-weeklies played post-9/11 as "the way out of the maze" of suspended disbelief; of the continuing importance to think and question what those in power do and say; and of his foray into the realm of political reporting and commentary.
(FULL STORY)
AAN News |
05-14-2007 10:52 am |
Association News
Seattle Weekly Makes Waves with F-Bomb on the Covernew
KOMO-TV says it "has received several viewer e-mails" complaining about this week's Seattle Weekly cover (pictured), which features an illustration of a kid wearing a T-shirt that reads "Fuck School." The TV station assumes "the paper made the bold move to make people pick up the paper," and talks to a few angry Seattle residents, but finds others who certainly don't seem to mind. Managing editor Mike Seely explains the decision to KOMO, saying "I took a look at the guy on the cover and I thought, 'what is this guy thinking?' And it was crystal clear." On the Weekly's blog, editor-in-chief Mark Fefer writes that the paper didn't go with the cover "just to get attention or stoke controversy." He adds: "I take no pleasure whatsoever from knowing that many people -- mostly (I think) people who aren't the paper's readers -- took offense."
KOMO-TV |
05-14-2007 9:15 am |
Industry News
AAN President Ken Neill's Remarks in Presenting the Molly Ivins Award
This was the introduction given by AAN president Ken Neill as he awarded Keith Olbermann the first annual Molly Ivins Award on Wednesday, May 9, 2007.
(FULL STORY)
AAN |
05-14-2007 10:50 am |
Association News
Talking 'bout Food in Portlandnew
That's what we'll be doing in the editorial stream on the opening day of the convention, when Pulitzer winner Jonathan Gold joins a panel of AAN editors to chew over the best ways to write about food and cover the restaurant industry. Also on the panel's menu: reader reviews and restaurant blogs. Two days later, panel moderator Kelly Clarke, arts & culture editor at Willamette Week, will lead a morning stroll through Portland's bustling, delicious Farmers Market, where AAN foodies can graze on gratis samples from some of Oregon's finest farmers, cheesemakers, bread bakers and sweets makers.
PortlAANd 2007 |
05-10-2007 7:03 pm |
Association News
AAN Presents First Annual Molly Ivins Award to Keith Olbermann
The award recognizes a journalist or media figure whose reporting or commentary has had a profound impact on the public's understanding of vital national issues. It will be presented to the Countdown host in a ceremony to be held this afternoon in New York City. "I'm utterly honored," said Olbermann, "largely because I'd still like to be Molly Ivins when I grow up." To recognize Olbermann's achievement, AAN will donate $2,000 in his name to the Molly Ivins Fund for Investigative Reporting at the Texas Observer, where the Ivins served as co-editor from 1970 to 1976.
(FULL STORY)
AAN |
05-09-2007 8:53 am |
Association News
How Does Portland Do it Differently?new
That's the question we're going to try to answer on Thursday, June 14, the opening day of the convention. In an AAN convention first, our hosts at Willamette Week have assembled a panel of lively and articulate local experts to discuss the region's unique approach to public-policy issues that have national resonance, including land-use planning, mass transit, assisted suicide, sustainable development and medical marijuana.
PortlAANd 2007 |
05-04-2007 4:42 pm |
Association News
Ruh-Roh! Portland Hotel Filling Up Quickly
AAN's room block at the Portland Hilton has already sold out for the night of Wednesday, June 13. You can still reserve a room at the Hilton that evening, but you'll be asked to pay more than the convention rate of $129. (For the time being, the Hilton still has rooms available at the convention rate on June 14, 15 and 16.) For those on a tight budget, we've added a small block of rooms at $129 at the Paramount, a boutique hotel located less than two blocks from the Hilton. So if you are planning to arrive on June 13 and want to save a few dollars, call the Paramount Hotel at 503-223-9900.
PortlAANd 2007 |
05-03-2007 6:59 pm |
Association News
2007 AltWeekly Awards Finalists Announced
The finalists include stories about a unitard-clad unicyclist, tuberculosis testing in prisons, and a cancer that may be caused by the implosion of the World Trade Center on 9/11. Other honorees that emerged from the 1,481 entries include a comic strip starring Republican strategist Ralph Reed and an illustrated guide for African-Americans to navigate DC's posh Georgetown neighborhood. L.A. Weekly and Style Weekly are the big winners this year, with the former setting a contest record with 13 winning entries.
(FULL STORY)
AAN |
05-03-2007 11:17 am |
Association News
Mag Publishers Move Into Agency Territory, Marketers Take Noticenew
Advertising Age |
05-03-2007 11:00 am |
Industry News
Nineteen Papers Apply for AAN Membership
That's almost twice as many as last year, and the most since 2001, when 22 papers applied. This year's hopefuls are spread across 14 states and one Canadian province, and include many repeat applicants and several other papers with pre-existing connections to AAN. And in a new twist in the admissions process, AAN prepared a report that provides background information on the companies and individuals who hold ownership stakes in each paper.
(FULL STORY)
AAN News |
05-02-2007 3:27 pm |
Association News
Early Registration Deadline is Fridaynew
Be sure to register by Friday, May 4, to save $50 on registration rates for the Portland Convention. It's quick and easy to register online. Don't forget the registration bonuses for AAN member papers: Pay for two registrations and get one free; pay for a third and get one more for free. Our online system automatically calculates each paper's freebies.
AAN |
05-02-2007 1:47 pm |
Association News
Minneapolis Alt-Weekly to Cease Publishingnew
Two-time AAN applicant Pulse of the Twin Cities will shut down within the month, the Star Tribune reports. The paper was founded by community activist Ed Felien in 1997 after the Twin Cities Reader was shuttered. "It's been a wonderful run; I've loved every minute of it and hated every minute of it," Felien says, adding that it "has never been financially remunerative." Felien tells the Star Tribune that he will continue to publish his monthly newspaper, Southside Pride, and he also suggests that Pulse may continue to maintain an online presence.
The Star Tribune |
04-26-2007 8:53 am |
Industry News
Such a Deal! Three for Two, or Five for Three
Member papers that register for the AAN convention in Portland are eligible to receive up to two free registrations, courtesy of the AAN CAN classified program that makes this association run. Take advantage of this AAN CAN-inspired largesse by registering three people for the price of two, or five people for the price of three. And to save even more money, don't forget to sign up by May 4 for the early-registration discount. You can register online or download a registration form on the convention website.
AAN |
04-24-2007 6:17 pm |
Association News
