AAN News
NOW Writer Expands Ideas in Environmental Column for Booknew
Adria Vasil answers readers' environmental queries in her "Ecoholic" column for the Toronto alt-weekly. While her just-released book shares its name with the column, it "takes a different approach, with in-depth discussion and advice covering fashion, beauty, home improvement, outdoor living, money and more," NOW reports. She says her approach is to counsel people on the small things they can do to be more earth-friendly. "Let's face it," Vasil says. "You can't achieve environmental purity unless you're Woody Harrelson and you have millions of dollars."
NOW Magazine |
04-20-2007 2:05 pm |
Industry News
Pulitzer Prize Reinforces Alt-Weeklies' Food Writing Excellence
When the Pulitzer Board's first award for criticism for food writing went to LA Weekly's Jonathan Gold, we have to admit we were less than surprised. Judging by the results of the major food journalism awards over the past few years, it's clear that alt-weeklies have scaled the upper ranks of publications that write and report on the subject of food.
(FULL STORY)
AAN News |
04-19-2007 2:11 pm |
Industry News
Tags: Editorial, Management
Folio Weekly Editor Booted from Regular Spot on Morning News Shownew
John Citrone had been appearing each Wednesday on WJXT-TV to preview weekly entertainment options in Jacksonville, Fla., but his segment on the show was canceled yesterday after he made comments on-air that were "very inappropriate and insensitive," according to the station. "Do we really care if Georgia burns?" Citrone asked jokingly about recent brush fires that have afflicted that state. Reached by AAN News, Citrone explains that the question was asked "in a Groucho Marx-y" way, and was in keeping with his on-air shtick as "the crazy alt-weekly guy." Folio Weekly's managing editor admits he was unaware of the severity of the fires, and says his only intention was to have a little fun with an interstate rivalry. He offered to apologize on-air later in the broadcast but WJXT declined, although they included his written apology in a story about the incident posted on their website. Citrone tells AAN News that when he has had an opportunity to apologize to individuals who were upset by his comment, most have been understanding and supportive.
WJXT-TV |
04-19-2007 12:00 pm |
Industry News
Nashville Passes News Box Regulationnew
The Metro Council approved the legislation this week despite opposition from the Nashville Scene and other local publications. According to the Tennessean, the law takes effect July 1. It will restrict the placement of news boxes and require publishers to pay permit fees and maintain their newsracks in good repair. "I'm not sure what it's supposed to accomplish, other than that we'll all have to register with a government entity and keep the boxes in working order," Scene publisher Chris Ferrell says. The councilman who co-sponsored the ordinance says he would lead the charge to rescind it if local publishers developed a better, voluntary plan.
An earlier self-policing plan submitted by publishers was rejected by the council.
The Tennessean |
04-19-2007 8:32 am |
Industry News
Jonathan Gold Talks Food on 'All Things Considered'new
Co-host Michele Norris praises the Pulitzer-winning LA Weekly food critic for having "a very expansive view" of what being a restaurant critic is all about. "You wouldn't believe how many bad meals I eat in order to find the ones I review every week," Gold says. He visited a particular Taiwanese restaurant 17 times -- "until I figured out what the aesthetic was," he says -- even though he despised the food. "I described one dish there as being bitter -- not bitter like coffee, but bitter like cancer medicine," Gold says. "But I meant it in a good way."
National Public Radio |
04-18-2007 4:45 pm |
Honors & Achievements
AltWeeklies.com: The Week in Review
Today, AAN debuts AltWeeklies.com: The Week in Review, a new feature that will highlight the week's best stories from AltWeeklies.com, dig out dusties from the archives, and note story ideas that other papers can easily steal. In this week's installment: Kurt Vonnegut, unsexy men, the SEIU, David Sedaris, war tax resisters, ghost soldiers, Paul Wolfowitz and a commuter challenge.
(FULL STORY)
AAN News |
04-18-2007 3:31 pm |
Association News
Westword Takes Home Bert Greene Award for Food Journalismnew
Jason Sheehan's story on a semi-secret, unlicensed eatery catering to Denver's tight-knit community of Ghanaian immigrants has been named a 2007 Bert Greene Award winner by the International Association of Culinary Professionals. The awards, announced Saturday in Chicago, recognize excellence in food journalism. This marks the second year in a row Westword has won. Last year, Adam Cayton-Holland's "Word of Mouth" took top honors.
International Association of Culinary Professionals |
04-18-2007 12:02 pm |
Honors & Achievements
Nashville Scene Sues for Information Denied by Dept. of Correctionsnew
In February, Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen issued an executive order halting all executions for 90 days so the Department of Corrections (DOC) could perform "a comprehensive review" of the state's execution protocol. Soon thereafter, the Scene filed an open-records request seeking information on the DOC's deliberations, but it was denied. With the May 2 deadline for the DOC's recommendations looming, the Scene filed suit yesterday in Davidson County Chancery Court. "We're talking about how we're going to go about killing people in this state," editor Liz Garrigan tells the Nashville Post. "We think that ought to be an open discussion." Nashville's City Paper reports the DOC has conducted its review entirely behind closed doors, with the exception of one 40-minute public forum.
The Nashville Post | The City Paper |
04-18-2007 8:19 am |
Legal News
LA Weekly's Jonathan Gold Wins Pulitzer Prize for Distinguished Criticism
First Time Restaurant Critic Wins
(FULL STORY)
LA Weekly Press Release |
04-18-2007 2:17 pm |
Press Releases
Maui Time Weekly Launches Weekly 'Beyond the Ink' Podcast
Maui Time Weekly Press Release |
04-18-2007 11:18 am |
Press Releases
Jonathan Gold 'Giddy' About Winning Pulitzernew
"The Pulitzer Prize is something that, when you're a food writer, you don't even dream about," the LA Weekly food critic says. The AP says Gold's win boosted morale at the paper, which has "weathered several layoffs" since the Village Voice Media merger with New Times. "Maybe this means they won't fire me this year," Gold jokes. His wife and Weekly editor Laurie Ochoa says the Pulitzer is "especially sweet" and adds: "Now it's official: There is no conflict of interest when I say he's a great critic." VVM executive editor Michael Lacey tells the AP the Pulitzer win shows "alternative papers are beginning to get the respect they've earned."
Associated Press via Pravda |
04-17-2007 11:44 am |
Honors & Achievements
Texas Observer Uncovers Governor's Massive Citizen Databasenew
The Texas Data Exchange (TDEx) was created by Gov. Rick Perry's Homeland Security office as a way to coordinate data from all of the state's law enforcement agencies, News 8 Austin reports. The database, brought to light by an Observer investigation, may already include information on at least a million Texans. "What is most striking, and disturbing, about the database is that it is not being run by the state's highest law enforcement agency," the Observer's Jake Bernstein writes. "Instead, control of TDEx, and the power to decide who can use it, resides in the governor's office." According to News 8, the governor's office originally claimed that the database was under supervision by state law enforcement.
News 8 Austin |
04-17-2007 10:43 am |
Industry News
New Editor Says City Pages Not Destined for Major Makeovernew
But Kevin Hoffman tells the Pioneer Press he wants the paper to be "more adventurous" and less partisan. "I'm probably a bit less ideological than my predecessor was," says Hoffman, who took over when Steve Perry resigned earlier this year. While City Pages co-founder Kris Henning decries "the corporatization" of the paper, staff writer Mike Mosedale says the major difference now is that Hoffman is more hands-on and runs a more disciplined newsroom than Perry.
The Pioneer Press |
04-17-2007 9:37 am |
Industry News
Independent Weekly Wins Freedom of Information Award and Morenew
The Lafayette, La., alt-weekly was given the Freedom of Information award by the Louisiana Press Association "for its exposure of a
questionable land swap deal being proposed by the University of Louisiana in Lafayette," according to a press release (PDF file). Judges of the award called senior editor Leslie Turk's coverage "passionate and vigorous," the Weekly reports. The paper won a total of 20 first place honors in the Association's annual awards -- in categories ranging from investigative reporting to best advertising idea to best website.
The Independent Weekly |
04-17-2007 8:21 am |
Honors & Achievements
LA Weekly Food Critic Wins the Pulitzer Prizenew
Jonathan Gold was awarded this year's prize for criticism, becoming the first food critic ever to win a Pulitzer. The judges praised Gold's "zestful, wide ranging restaurant reviews, expressing the delight of an erudite eater." Gold finished in first place for Food Writing in 2005's AltWeekly Awards and is a four-time James Beard winner. This marks the sixth Pulitzer awarded to an AAN member: The Village Voice's Teresa Carpenter won for feature writing (1981); the Voice's Jules Feiffer won for cartooning (1986); the Boston Phoenix's Lloyd Schwartz won for criticism (1994); the Voice's Mark Schoofs won for international reporting (2000); and Willamette Week's Nigel Jaquiss won for investigative reporting (2005). UPDATE: See scenes from LA Weekly's celebration of Gold's win. Read AAN News' Feb. 2006 interview with Gold.
The Pulitzer Board |
04-16-2007 3:20 pm |
Honors & Achievements
