AAN News
Boise Weekly Partners with GlobalPostnew
The Idaho alt-weekly is one of "a growing number of news outlets" signing up to partner with the online world news site GlobalPost, the New York Times reports. The Weekly subscribed to the service last week and is running a widget that feeds global news on the sidebar of its citydesk blog.
The New York Times |
03-23-2009 2:54 pm |
Industry News
Austin Chronicle 'Continues to Thrive' by Staying Localnew
The alt-weekly has revenue of approximately $8.5 million a year, has not laid off anyone and has no plans to do so, New York Times columnist David Carr reports. He says that part of why the paper has been successful is because of its ties to the community. "The Chronicle is knit into civic and cultural life in Austin to a degree that may make other newspapers nervous," Carr writes.
The New York Times |
03-23-2009 10:51 am |
Industry News
Leahy/Cornyn Bill Would Help ID FOIA's 'Hidden Exemptions'new
The Freedom of Information Act lists eight broad exemption categories covering specific areas, and has one item, Section b(3), which says that information can be exempted from disclosure by other statutes without mentioning FOIA at all. New legislation introduced last week by Sens. Patrick Leahy and John Cornyn would require any new b(3) exemptions to specifically reference FOIA, so they'd be easier to spot.
Columbia Journalism Review |
03-23-2009 10:25 am |
Legal News
Tags: Editorial
City Pages' New Show is a 'Revolutionary Approach' to Talk Radionew
Local radio legend T.D. Mischke has begun his weekly web radio show (and print column) for the Twin Cities alt-weekly, and the Star Tribune says the experiment "is being observed by every publication struggling to adapt to a world in which paper and ink aren't enough to keep the lights on." Under the arrangement, Mischke is given a platform and he brings his own advertisers. That was a big sell to publisher Mark Bartel. "That and the fact that he's a known commodity made it a no-brainer," he says, adding that the cost for the webcasts would probably be a couple hundred dollars a month.
The Star Tribune |
03-20-2009 1:00 pm |
Industry 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
Obama Administration Set to Release FOIA Reform Memonew
Attorney General Eric Holder has approved new guidelines, expected to be released today, fleshing out President Obama's Jan. 21 order to reveal more government records under FOIA. The new standard essentially returns to what was in place under the Clinton administration, in which federal agencies are told to release records to the public unless foreseeable harm would result. It would replace the Bush administration policy of presumptive nondisclosure. MORE: Read the Sunshine in Government Initiative statement on the changes.
The Associated Press |
03-19-2009 2:08 pm |
Legal News
Tags: Editorial, Management
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
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
Two AAN Members Fare Well in S.C. Press Association Awardsnew
Columbia Free Times won nine 2008 South Carolina Press Association awards, and Charleston City Paper won five. City Paper placed first in four categories (Feature Writing, General News Photo, Lifestyle Feature Writing and Photo Series or Photo Story), while Free Times took home first-place wins in three categories (Critical Writing, Illustration and Reporting in Depth). The awards were officially announced at the association's winter meeting last weekend.
South Carolina Press Association |
03-18-2009 1:55 pm |
Honors & Achievements
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
Missoula Independent Publisher Launches Outdoor Magazine
In May, Matt Gibson plans to launch and edit Montana Headwall, a quarterly lifestyle magazine focusing on the state's outdoor recreation scene. Initial plans call for a distribution of 10,000 copies. Most copies will be free of charge but the magazine will cost $4.95 at certain locations like supermarkets and bookstores.
(FULL STORY)
Missoula Independent Press Release |
03-17-2009 9:46 am |
Press Releases
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
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
Veteran Says Phoenix Story Saved His Life
A Marine Corps veteran who has been struggling with mental-health issues has credited a story published in this week's Phoenix in Boston, Portland, and Providence with saving his life. Just hours after the story, "Soldiers Committing Suicide," hit the streets in Maine, the former Marine called the Portland office, thanking the paper for running the story and sharing his own ordeal of being out of meds he takes for his PTSD. Portland Phoenix managing editor Jeff Inglis recommended the vet contact a local counseling service, and the vet called again later saying he'd made the appointment. "You guys saved the life of a veteran," he said on a voicemail message. MORE: Read Inglis' account of the day here.
(FULL STORY)
Phoenix Newspaper Group Press Release |
03-13-2009 12:09 pm |
Press Releases
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
