AAN News
Honolulu Weekly Picks Up Two SPJ Awards
Honolulu Weekly walked away from the Hawaii Chapter SPJ's 2009 Excellence in Journalism Awards dinner with two honors. Ragnar Carlson won first place in the General News/Enterprise Reporting category for his article, "Malaekahana-ville," and Adrienne LaFrance was a finalist in the Feature Writing Category.
Hawaii Society of Professional Journalists |
07-07-2010 3:24 pm |
Honors & Achievements
East Bay Express' 2010 Best of the East Bay Party

On August 6, the East Bay Express celebrates its winners of the 2010 Best of the East Bay readers’ poll and editors’ picks all along the Jack London Square waterfront. Over 20,000 guests are expected to attend and salute the best ideas, products and services that are borne out of the East Bay region.
(FULL STORY)
East Bay Express Press Release |
07-06-2010 10:06 pm |
Press Releases
Tags: Marketing, East Bay Express
Senior Advertising Executive Named CL Charlotte Associate Publisher
Wendy Goldstein, a senior advertising executive with McClatchy Newspapers, has been named Associate Publisher of Creative Loafing Charlotte. As Associate Publisher, Goldstein will be responsible for all sales, marketing, and business functions of CL Charlotte, the Carolinas’ largest city weekly and Charlotte’s leading source of information about the arts, entertainment, dining, and other aspects of city life.
(FULL STORY)
Creative Loafing Press Release |
07-06-2010 11:13 am |
Press Releases
VVM Websites Notch 'Biggest Month Ever' in Web Trafficnew
Andy Van De Voorde, executive associate editor for Village Voice Media, writes that June was "the biggest traffic month in the history of VVMH." Websites owned by VVM received sixty-eight million page views in June, an increase of seventy percent compared to the same month last year.
Village Voice Media |
07-02-2010 3:28 pm |
Industry News
Tags: Circulation, Electronic Publishing
Willamette Week Kicked Out of Press Conference for Missing Boynew
During a press conference held by the family of a missing Oregon boy, Willamette Week reporter James Pitkin -- who had earlier reported on the family's troubled history -- was asked to leave for failing to be a "team player." A reporter for the local daily, The Oregonian, was also escorted out. As Pitkin noted, the end result was that the two largest papers in Oregon had essentially been sidelined because the family didn't approve of the negative coverage.
Romenesko / Willamette Week |
07-02-2010 3:02 pm |
Industry News
Tags: Editorial, Willamette Week
Birmingham Weekly Unveils Website Redesignnew

Birmingham Weekly re-launched its website yesterday, a project it pulled off with assistance from Wehaa. The new website includes a digital version of the paper and an updated events calendar interface.
Updated July 6, 2010: In a column introducing the new website, publisher Chuck Leishman writes, "We believe that the combination of a free weekly paper integrated with a vibrant website is a viable model for delivering news and information to the community. Building communities is what we are all about, and the new integrated site greatly increases Birmingham Weekly’s ability to help further that goal."
Updated July 6, 2010: In a column introducing the new website, publisher Chuck Leishman writes, "We believe that the combination of a free weekly paper integrated with a vibrant website is a viable model for delivering news and information to the community. Building communities is what we are all about, and the new integrated site greatly increases Birmingham Weekly’s ability to help further that goal."
Media of Birmingham |
07-02-2010 2:26 pm |
Industry News
East Bay Express Grabs Eleven Awards in East Bay Press Club Contest
East Bay Express went home with eleven awards at the East Bay Press Club’s 2009 Excellence in Print Journalism Contest last week. Five awards were for first place: Stephen Buel won for best page design, Kathleen Wentz took first in the investigative reporting category, Robert Gammon received two first place awards for best columnist and best analysis, and Rachel Swan won the top prize in the profile category.
East Bay Express |
06-30-2010 4:51 pm |
Honors & Achievements
How Does Your Editorial Department Stack Up?
For many years, AAN editors have traded information on the editorial listserv about staff sizes, freelance rates and other nitty gritty information. In Toronto, editorial staffers will really get down to brass tacks by reviewing the results of an editorial standards survey that will ultimately be collated to create a benchmark document for AAN editorial departments. The survey will be available following the convention in the AAN resource library.
Whether you are attending the convention or not, filling out the survey will only add to its usefulness. If you are heading to Toronto, be sure to attend the Editorial Standards session from 3:45-4:45 pm on Saturday, July 17, which will be moderated by Editorial Committee members Jimmy Boegle, editor of Tucson Weekly, and Hank Sims, editor of North Coast Journal. The session will consist of a lively free-wheeling discussion about how editors are using their budgets and staff -- and hopefully generate new ideas and inspiration.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SURVEY LINK (Must be logged in to your AAN account)
Whether you are attending the convention or not, filling out the survey will only add to its usefulness. If you are heading to Toronto, be sure to attend the Editorial Standards session from 3:45-4:45 pm on Saturday, July 17, which will be moderated by Editorial Committee members Jimmy Boegle, editor of Tucson Weekly, and Hank Sims, editor of North Coast Journal. The session will consist of a lively free-wheeling discussion about how editors are using their budgets and staff -- and hopefully generate new ideas and inspiration.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SURVEY LINK (Must be logged in to your AAN account)
AAN |
06-30-2010 2:56 pm |
Association News
Publisher Says Chicago Reader Will "Push" Line Between Editorial and Advertising

More details have come to light on the CL, Inc. decision to fire long-time Chicago Reader editor Alison True. Speaking to senior editor Michael Miner -- who on Friday described True's firing as a "tragic misjudgment" -- Reader publisher Alison Draper indicated that the paper's next editor will be expected to collaborate more often with the business side:
"The editor of the Reader," said Draper, "has to work closely with sales to find innovative ways to take our fair share of the dollars that are shrinking and shrinking quickly." She promised me that she wouldn't "blur" the line between editorial and advertising, but she would "push" it. The distinction was clearer to her than it was to me.Miner goes on to explain that True was fired at a Starbucks after the paper's Best of Chicago issue came out. It was, Miner says, the "fattest, most successful issue in years, a triumph True and Draper should have been sharing in." (FULL STORY)
Chicago Reader |
06-29-2010 5:53 pm |
Industry News
Fort Worth Weekly, Houston Press Are Big Winners in Lone Star Awards
Four AAN papers dominated the Houston Press Club's Lone Star Awards last week. The big winners were Fort Worth Weekly with eleven awards, five of them for first place; and Houston Press which received ten awards, four for first place. Dallas Observer also had a great showing, taking home four first place honors and seven total awards on the night. San Antonio Current picked up four awards, taking first place in the small-circ news or feature story category.
Individuals receiving multiple awards included Betty Brink (Fort Worth Weekly), Peter Gorman (Fort Worth Weekly), Eric Griffey (Fort Worth Weekly), Greg Harman (San Antonio Current), Paul Knight (Houston Press), Craig Malisow (Houston Press), Sam Merten (Dallas Observer), Jim Schutze (Dallas Observer), Chris Vogel (Houston Press), and Richie Whitt (Dallas Observer). (FULL STORY)
Individuals receiving multiple awards included Betty Brink (Fort Worth Weekly), Peter Gorman (Fort Worth Weekly), Eric Griffey (Fort Worth Weekly), Greg Harman (San Antonio Current), Paul Knight (Houston Press), Craig Malisow (Houston Press), Sam Merten (Dallas Observer), Jim Schutze (Dallas Observer), Chris Vogel (Houston Press), and Richie Whitt (Dallas Observer). (FULL STORY)
Houston Press Club |
06-29-2010 4:52 pm |
Honors & Achievements
Tags: Editorial, Electronic Publishing
Four Alt-Weeklies Among SoCal Journalism Awards Winners
The Los Angeles Press Club held its annual SoCal Journalism Awards last night and four AAN papers went home with honors.
(FULL STORY)
Los Angeles Press Club |
06-28-2010 5:48 pm |
Honors & Achievements
Bartash Acquires New Tensor Web Press
Market Leader Increases capacity to meet growing demand
(FULL STORY)
Bartash Printing Press Release |
06-28-2010 11:43 am |
Press Releases
Former District Weekly Writers Launch New Websitenew
Former writers of the District Weekly, which shut down in March, have launched the website GreaterLongBeach.com. Dave Wielenga, former writer for OC Weekly and the now-defunct New Times Los Angeles, is the publisher of the new site.
LBPost.com |
06-25-2010 6:16 pm |
Industry News
Tags: Editorial, Electronic Publishing
Alison True Out as Editor of Chicago Reader
Alison True has been fired as editor of the Chicago Reader after twenty-six years with the paper. According to senior editor Michael Miner, the decision was announced during a staff meeting this morning by Reader publisher Alison Draper. Said Miner, "I consider this act unfathomable — a tragic misjudgment by two people, Draper and [Creative Loafing CEO Marty] Petty, whom I respect. I suppose they have a vision of tomorrow's Reader they think True is wrong for."
According to Chicago Business, True was caught completely off guard by the move.
According to Chicago Business, True was caught completely off guard by the move.
Chicago Reader / Chicago Business |
06-25-2010 5:55 pm |
Industry News
Early Registration Deadline for Toronto Approaches

Members and non-members have until the end of the day tomorrow, Friday, June 25 to receive the early registration discount for AAN's 33rd Annual Convention in Toronto. The discounted rate for members and associate members is $325 per person, and the discounted rate for non-members is $425 per person. Both rates will increase by $50 per person after Friday night.
In addition, when three representatives from the same member paper sign up, that paper will get a fourth registration free of charge. This offer will remain valid after the early registration deadline.
Click here to register online.
As of today, June 24, the Hilton Toronto still has a very limited number of rooms available at AAN's discounted rate of $139.00 (CAD) per night. Click here to reserve a room at AAN's group rate and contact the AAN office if you encounter any difficulty obtaining the group rate through their site.
READ MORE (FULL STORY)
In addition, when three representatives from the same member paper sign up, that paper will get a fourth registration free of charge. This offer will remain valid after the early registration deadline.
Click here to register online.
As of today, June 24, the Hilton Toronto still has a very limited number of rooms available at AAN's discounted rate of $139.00 (CAD) per night. Click here to reserve a room at AAN's group rate and contact the AAN office if you encounter any difficulty obtaining the group rate through their site.
READ MORE (FULL STORY)
AAN |
06-24-2010 7:28 pm |
Association News