AAN News
States and Publishers Fight Theft of Free Newspapersnew
In a story on the increased theft of curbside refuse and free newspapers, the Associated Press reports that legislation being considered in California "would make large-scale, anonymous recycling more difficult." The legislation, which was championed by the East Bay Express, the San Francisco Bay Guardian, and other Bay Area publishers, would force recyclers to require a photo ID for anyone bringing in more than $50 worth of cans, bottles or newspapers and to pay the poachers with checks rather than cash. The AP also notes that the Express hired an ex-police detective to stake out thieves and began retrofitting curbside news boxes to make them theft-resistant. "We don't want to be spending all our energy printing papers that people take directly to the recyclers," Express president Hal Brody says.
The Associated Press |
07-09-2008 8:47 am |
Industry News
Faced With 'Pretty Flat' Ad Revenue, Isthmus Considers Possible Layoffsnew
The Madison, Wis., alt-weekly is "looking at ways to reduce expenses like everybody has to," publisher Vince O'Hern tells the Capital Times. "Nothing is decided. It may involve some people taking leaves, and some people not being on staff anymore." News editor Bill Lueders says A&E editor Dean Robbins will take an unpaid six-month leave to tend to "personal projects and other work." Other than that, he says talk of any staff changes is premature. Isthmus employs 10 editorial staffers, and the total staff size is about three dozen, according to Lueders.
The Capital Times |
07-09-2008 8:22 am |
Industry News
Leading Analyst Lowers 2008 Ad Spending Forecast Againnew
The New York Times |
07-09-2008 10:05 am |
Industry News
Santa Fe Will Test Out Modular Newsracksnew
The city will begin with one rack at City Hall, and then will accept public input before making a decision on extending the program to all city-owned property and right-of-ways (including sidewalks), according to Santa Fe Reporter columnist Zane Fischer. He argues that the program is a waste of time and money, and that the modular racks -- not individual news boxes -- are the real eyesores. "The neatness purchased by such an investment tends toward homogeneity rather than beauty," Fischer writes. "Santa Fe's dedication to retaining its distinctive appearance has been so enormous over the past century -- and its resistance to architectural progress remains so formidable -- that there is sad irony to be found in watching its difference be chipped away by small, aesthetic technicalities."
Santa Fe Reporter |
07-08-2008 8:12 am |
Industry News
Nielsen: Two-Thirds of US Internet Users Watched Online Video in Maynew
The New York Times |
07-08-2008 11:00 am |
Industry News
More on the Free Times/Scene Mergernew
"The idea, of course, is that with no competition to siphon off advertisers or keep ad prices rock-bottom, one alt-weekly might accomplish what the Free Times and Scene couldn't: make enough money to survive," Scene managing editor Joe Tone says of the recently announced merger. "And it's hard to bemoan the consolidation. Had they not become one, the two papers would have eventually become none." However, Tone notes that, for now, Cleveland "will lose some journalists." In addition to former editor Pete Kotz, who has already left for Nashville, Tone says staff writer Lisa Rab and food critic Elaine Cicora have departed. Frank Lewis, who last week was named the new paper's editor, reports on the Free Times blog that the other managers have been named. Sean Misutka and Joe Strailey have been plucked from the Scene to be ad sales manager and classified sales manager, respectively. And three additional Free Times managers have found homes at the new paper: Steve Antol is the circulation manager; Tim Divis is the business manager, and Steve Miluch is the production manager.
Scene | Cleveland Free Times |
07-07-2008 11:39 am |
Industry News
LA Weekly Co-founder Pete Kameron Diesnew
The entrepreneur and philanthropist died peacefully on June 29 at the age of 87 at his home in Beverly Hills. He was a principal original investor in the Weekly, served as chairman for many years, and also co-founded LA Style as a sister publication in the 1980s. "Without Pete Kameron, LA Weekly probably wouldn't exist," writes former Weekly publisher Michael Sigman. "And instead of spending 19 years at the paper, I might not have lasted three months."
LA Weekly |
07-07-2008 9:18 am |
Industry News
Tags: Management, L.A. Weekly
Cleveland Free Times Editor Will Take Helm at the New Scene
AAN News has learned that Frank Lewis has been named the editor of the Scene, which is being merged with the Free Times by new owners Times-Shamrock on July 23. The announcement was made to the two staffs yesterday. Former Scene editor Pete Kotz began his tenure as editor of the Nashville Scene this week. Lewis joined the Free Times in 2005 after serving as the Scene's managing editor. Before that, he spent close to seven years at the Philadelphia City Paper.
AAN News |
07-03-2008 11:57 am |
Industry News
One Chain Restauranteur on Why He Uses Alt-Weeklies to Hire GMsnew
The trade magazine Chain Leader talks to a number of "upstart operators" of chain food businesses, who "share their tactics for recruiting and retaining general managers as they grow." Matt Phillips, the founder, president and CEO of California-based Blendz, says he buys ads in the center of alt-weeklies to find GMs. "It does a dual purpose. It obviously is branding, whether it's an offer or a special that you're promoting," he explains. "But it also gives you the ability to say 'Now hiring. Looking for great people.' And it's in a unique position in the newspaper that people aren't necessarily expecting it, but everybody is looking at because they're looking at what to do that weekend or where's the new hot restaurant to go to."
Chain Leader Magazine |
07-02-2008 12:33 pm |
Industry News
Boston Phoenix Announces the Best Music Acts in Each of the 50 States
The Phoenix and ThePhoenix.com have unveiled the inaugural "50 Bands/50 States": a declaration of the Best All-Time Band, Best All-Time Solo Artist, and the Best New Band from each of the 50 states. The project also includes an interactive component, with three "people's choice" awards, in which readers can cast ballots via mobile phone or the internet to determine the winner in three undecided contests. "I'm feeling bloodied and bruised," says Phoenix editor Lance Gould. "This list led to so many arguments, hurt feelings, and actual skin abrasions that we could use some medical attention. Luckily, California's Dr. Dre made the list."
(FULL STORY)
Boston Phoenix Press Release |
07-02-2008 8:55 am |
Press Releases
Village Voice Employees Sign Contract, Avoid Walkoutnew
The unionized Voice employees averted a strike early this morning, forging an agreement with Village Voice Media for a new three-year contract, the New York Press reports. "We got a deal. 3 o'clock this morning," Voice staff writer and shop steward Tom Robbins tells the Press. "We won a good victory for unions." Under the new contract, which was unanimously ratified this morning, union members will not be expected to pay any portion of the premium of their health care, and Robbins says the new contract calls for a raise.
New York Press |
07-01-2008 12:36 pm |
Industry News
Former Village Voice Editor Clay Felker Diesnew
Felker, 82, died in his home this morning. Felker founded New York magazine and exerted a seminal influence in new journalism. He owned and edited The Village Voice from 1974-1977, and also founded California-based alternative magazine New West. But as the Voice points out, Felker "proved to be an unpopular editor" at the paper. "Felker did found New York magazine, and he had some great writers there," Nat Hentoff says. "He had one of the most distinguished staffs in magazine history. He started that vogue for weekly city magazines around the country. But his tenure at the Voice was very unpleasant -- because he tried to turn it into New York magazine."
The New York Times | The Village Voice |
07-01-2008 11:47 am |
Industry News
Veteran Cartoonist on Her Strip's Disappearance from Alt-Weekliesnew
In a lengthy Q&A with the Comics Reporter largely about her new book What It Is, Lynda Barry says she's "gone from being in over 70 papers to being in seven papers." She says consolidation has been the main factor, and that comics are often the first casualties. "My comic is often axed the minute the sale is complete. And I can understand why," Barry says. "The papers aren't as alternative or freaky as they once were, and having a comic strip in the paper that is often weird and sad just leaves editors with question marks over their heads. There was a time when it wasn't that strange, but now it is strange to have that kind of strip in a paper."
The Comics Reporter |
07-01-2008 9:18 am |
Industry News
New Red Hook Brewing Ad Campaign to Run in Handful of Alt-Weekliesnew
BrandWeek |
07-01-2008 9:29 am |
Industry News
Former Daily Paper Editor Now Blogging at Santa Barbara Independentnew
Editor & Publisher |
07-01-2008 9:20 am |
Industry News
