AAN News
Fallout from Michael Lacey's Comments Continuesnew
The Village Voice Media executive editor's Friday night utterance of the "n-word" continues to be discussed in media circles and on the internet. Maricopa County attorney Andrew Thomas, who may be sued by Phoenix New Times soon, criticized Lacey's comments at a press conference on Tuesday, saying "this should be the Don Imus moment for
Arizona's media," KTVK-TV reports. KTVK-TV also has the full video of the
acceptance speech in which the offending comment was made. And Philadelphia City Paper publisher Paul Curci is weighing in as well, calling Lacey's comments "vicious and hateful" in an incensed letter to AAN News.
KTVK-TV |
04-10-2008 1:33 pm |
Industry News
Longtime Monterey County Weekly Writer & Editor Diesnew
Chuck Thurman died last weekend, the Weekly reports. He was 53 years old. Over 14 years, Thurman held a variety of roles at the Weekly: arts writer, contributing editor, arts & entertainment editor, and associate editor. He left the paper in 2002. "Chuck had a deep connection to this community and a great love for it, and more zest for life than most," writes Weekly founder and CEO Bradley Zeve. "He also was committed to this newspaper and instrumental in helping the Weekly carve out its mission and its place in Monterey County". A celebration of Thurman's life will be held Saturday, May 17, at 2pm, at the Wharf Theater in Monterey.
Monterey County Weekly |
04-10-2008 10:15 am |
Industry News
Recent L.A. Weekly Cover Story to be Feature Filmnew
Universal Pictures has acquired Sascha Rothchild's "How to Get Divorced by 30" to form the basis of a romantic comedy, Variety reports. Marc Platt will produce the picture with Dana Fox, writer of the upcoming What Happens in Vegas... and 2005's The Wedding Date.
Variety |
04-10-2008 9:10 am |
Industry News
Letter to the Editor RE: Michael Lacey's Comments
Paul Curci |
04-10-2008 1:30 pm |
Letters to the Editor
Baltimore City Paper Wins Two Out of Three 2008 A.D. Emmart Awards
AAN News has been informed that staff writer Chris Landers won the 2008 A.D. Emmart Award for his story on a man who was wrongly accused as a sex offender. In addition, City Paper contributor Laura Laing won one of two honorable mentions for "Raising a Glass."
AAN News |
04-09-2008 12:56 pm |
Honors & Achievements
Jules Feiffer's Early Village Voice Comics Collected in New Booknew
The Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist's Explainers: The Complete Village Voice Strips 1956-66 is set to be released by Fantagraphics in June. The book, the first of four volumes collecting Feiffer's entire run of weekly strips from the Voice, features a lengthy introduction and interview with Feiffer by Fantagraphics publisher Gary Groth. The "world premiere book release reading and signing" is scheduled for Thursday, May 15, at 7 pm at the Strand bookstore in New York. In other Jules Feiffer news, last week he published a new political cartoon in the Voice for the first time in more than a decade.
Fantagraphics |
04-09-2008 9:55 am |
Industry News
AAN Board Member Carol Flagg to Step Down
The Austin Chronicle's advertising director -- and AAN Retail Advertising
Committee chair -- says she's leaving the paper in the first week of July.
Flagg plans to move back home to Phoenix to start a new company that
provides consulting services. She will step down from her position on the AAN Board of Directors following
the board's meeting in June in Philadelphia. Her departure means someone will be
elected at the convention to serve the one year remaining in her term as retail ad chair.
(FULL STORY)
AAN News |
04-08-2008 4:20 pm |
Association News
Wrong Interview, Right Fit: San Luis Obispo New Times Hires New Editor
Award-winning veteran investigative reporter Ed Connolly has taken over as editor of New Times, the paper announced Monday. Former editor Ryan Miller will remain at the paper as executive editor and will also assume responsibility for the production of New Times' sister paper, the Santa Maria Sun, for which he is also executive editor. Connolly first found his way to New Times after applying for a proofreader opening -- then he wandered into the wrong interview, one for an opening at the Sun. Miller said it quickly became clear Connolly's skills made him a good fit for New Times. "Ed sort of fell into our laps here at New Times," Miller says in a statement. "He was too good of an asset to pass up."
(FULL STORY)
San Luis Obispo New Times Press Release |
04-08-2008 1:42 pm |
Press Releases
Michael Lacey Causes Controversy While Accepting SPJ Awardnew
The Village Voice Media executive editor ruffled some feathers when he used the "n-word" to refer to an old friend while accepting the President's Award from the local Society of Professional Journalists chapter, the East Valley Tribune reports. "My words, meant to honor a friend, were inappropriate," Lacey says. "All present have my sincere apology. It is regrettable that any phrase of mine offended those attending a First Amendment awards banquet." In other news, Phoenix New Times will receive a Payne Award for Ethics in Journalism for standing up to last fall's grand jury probe. Lacey and VVM CEO Jim Larkin were both arrested and briefly incarcerated as a result of the probe.
East Valley Tribune |
04-08-2008 10:32 am |
Industry News
Four Alt-Weeklies Nab New York Press Association Awardsnew
AAN members were well-represented when the winners of the association's 2007 Better Newspaper Contest were announced this weekend. Syracuse New Times took home a total of nine awards, including first-place finishes in Best Advertising Campaign, Best House Ad/Ad Campaign, Graphic Illustration, Sports Feature, and Sports Feature Photo. Metroland won a total of seven awards, and staff writer David King was named 2007 Writer of the Year. Judges called King "a powerful writer, a master storyteller, and a thorough researcher whose convincing style grabs the reader and holds on tight -- navigating difficult subject matter, taking us to places we've never been, enabling us to understand things we never could." The New York Press came away with six awards, including first-place finishes in Best Front Page and Feature Story. The Ithaca Times took home four awards.
New York Press Association (pdf) |
04-08-2008 9:09 am |
Honors & Achievements
Syracuse New Times is History April 9, 2008
Syracuse New Times Press Release |
04-08-2008 4:05 pm |
Press Releases
Keith Knight Launches New Comic Stripnew
The Daily Cartoonist |
04-08-2008 2:32 pm |
Industry News
Tags: Design & Production, Editorial
Application Deadline for DNC Press Credentials Rapidly Approachingnew
All applications for press credentials at this year's Democratic National Convention (Aug. 25-28 in Denver) are due on Tuesday, April 15. AAN members interested in covering the convention should register via the House Periodical Press Gallery. Freelance photographers should apply through the Standing Committee of Press Photographers, and bloggers can register with the DNCC Press Gallery. Be sure to double-check the rules before applying, as there are many different types of credentials available. Hotels are sure to fill up fast, so book one soon if you're making the trip to Denver.
Democratic National Convention Committee |
04-07-2008 4:08 pm |
Industry News
Tags: Editorial, Management
Lowery Out at CityBeat; Schoenkopf Named Acting Editornew
Steve Lowery, who reported as the new editor of Los Angeles CityBeat last Monday, resigned late last week. Publisher Charles Gerencser accepted his resignation today and named Rebecca Schoenkopf acting editor. "It's purely personal," Lowery tells LA Observed. "When I got there, it became immediately apparent that I just didn't have it in me ... my body and my soul were telling me, hey bud, maybe it's time." In an email to AAN News, Gerencser says Schoenkopf, who had just begun her tenure as the paper's arts editor last week, "is very passionate about creating a must-have; must-read newsweekly. I am looking forward to working with her on our effort to re-launch CityBeat with the June 12th edition." LA Observed is reporting the retooled paper will have "more of a magazine sensibility."
LA Observed |
04-07-2008 2:27 pm |
Industry News
Bush Administration Mounts Campaign Against Federal Shield Lawnew
Four top Bush administration officials are weighing in against The Free Flow of Information Act, which would allow reporters to protect the identities of confidential sources, the Associated Press reports. Attorney General Michael Mukasey, National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff all expressed concerns about the bill via letters to senators which were made public this week. The bill was passed by the House and the Senate Judiciary Committee last October, but has since languished, waiting to be called to the Senate floor for a vote.
The Associated Press via Editor & Publisher |
04-04-2008 10:34 am |
Legal News
Tags: Editorial
