AAN News
Rudy Giuliani Says Village Voice Reporter is 'Obsessed' With Himnew

In response to last week's Voice cover story, which raised questions about whether the presidential candidate's four New York Yankees World Series rings were obtained in a legal and ethical manner, Giuliani told an Alabama crowd that Wayne Barrett "sticks pins in a doll of me every night" and "almost never gets his facts right." The story quoted appraisers who approximated the rings' value at $200,000, while Giuliani only paid $16,000 for them. More importantly, the article called into question the timing of the deals, alleging that he received them while still mayor -- a violation of law that could still be prosecuted. The Voice's allegations, which Giuliani says are "totally untrue," have sparked a new round of criticism of his administration, especially given his last-minute approval of a $400 million new stadium for the Yankees.
The Village Voice |
05-16-2007 2:09 pm |
Industry News
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) Launches New Dining Blognew
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) Press Release (PDF file) |
05-16-2007 10:43 am |
Press Releases
Texas Observer Reporter Honored by State Legislaturenew
Nate Blakeslee was formally recognized by the Texas House yesterday for his investigation that helped expose sexual abuse at a state youth correctional facility. The Texas Youth Commission has been rocked by the scandal, with the board resigning and a special rehabilitation plan put into place.
Dallas Morning News |
05-15-2007 12:16 pm |
Industry News
Pittsburgh City Paper Takes Home a Handful of Golden Quill Awards
Charlie Deitch received the Ray Sprigle Memorial Award, a "best in show" award, for his coverage of gambling in Pennsylvania. The alt-weekly also placed first in six categories (Business; Continuing Coverage; Criticism; Cultural; Enterprise/Investigative Article; Science, Health & Technology), and had finalists in three additional categories. The awards, given by the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania, were announced last night.
(FULL STORY)
The Press Club of Western Pennsylvania Press Release |
05-15-2007 8:20 am |
Honors & Achievements
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
The Coast Wins an Atlantic Journalism Awardnew
The Halifax alt-weekly won a Gold Award in the Feature Writing - Print category for Lezlie Lowe's three-part series on living with HIV/AIDS. The paper was also a finalist in two categories. Winners of the Atlantics, which celebrate "excellence in Atlantic Canada
journalism," were announced Saturday night.
Atlantic Journalism Awards Press Release |
05-14-2007 8:01 am |
Honors & Achievements
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
Minister is Suspended Following Dallas Observer Reports of Sexual Abusenew

In February, Observer editor Julie Lyons reported on her "Bible Girl" blog that Pentacostal Minister Sherman Allen had a decades-long history of alleged sexual abuse. Her investigation also revealed that several women have alleged that the minister, who is being sued by a former employee and church member, is also involved in the occult. Now, the Church of God in Christ has suspended Allen "from all national and local pastoral roles and activities" until his trial is settled, according to the Observer. The Church of God in Christ is the largest Pentecostal denomination in the United States, as well as the fourth-largest Christian church organization in the country, with some 6 million members.
Dallas Observer |
05-11-2007 8:08 am |
Industry 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
Village Voice Media Papers Win Five Maggie Awardsnew
Houston Press picked up three first-place awards, for Best Feature Article, Best Public Service Series or Article, and Best Cover. Two other VVM papers took home first place awards: Phoenix New Times for Best Series of Articles and SF Weekly for Tabloids/Consumer, which is the category for best overall publication. The Maggies, given out by the Western Publications Association, "recognize the hard work, dedication and creative talents working in the publishing industry today."
Western Publications Association |
05-10-2007 8:11 am |
Honors & Achievements
Online Event Listings: Can Alt-Weeklies Maintain the Franchise?new
Event listings have long served as the sine qua non of alt-weeklydom, but with the likes of Google, Microsoft and Yahoo focusing on the online distribution of event information, our share of the market is less than secure. That's why AAN commissioned Jackson Free Press publisher Todd Stauffer to review the state of the art in online event listings to help AAN members defend their turf. In his presentation at the AAN convention, Stauffer will suggest best practices for presenting online events; recommend tools to enhance the distribution of event information online while facilitating a web-to-print workflow; and propose technology standards for integrating event content into popular social-networking
tools.
PortlAANd 2007 |
05-09-2007 1:46 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
Alt-Weeklies Win Two First-Place Green Eyeshade Awardsnew
Miami New Times' Emily Witt placed first in Features, Weekly for "Band of Outsiders," while New Times Broward-Palm Beach's Kelly Cramer took first place in Non-Deadline News Weekly/Monthly for "Daddy's Girl." An alt-weekly was guaranteed a win in each of those categories, as AAN members accounted for all the nominees. Additional second-place Green Eyeshade Awards went to Miami New Times, the Nashville Scene and New Times Broward-Palm Beach. Creative Loafing (Charlotte) and the Memphis Flyer each took home a third-place award. The awards, which recognize outstanding journalism in 11 southeastern states, were presented at a banquet in Nashville on Saturday.
Society of Professional Journalists |
05-09-2007 8:13 am |
Honors & Achievements
Tags: Editorial, Management