AAN News
Can a Redesign Boost the Bottom Line?
Ron Reason's recent redesign of Creative Loafing (Atlanta) was a bold articulation of the notion that any redesign effort should consider the question of revenue. His fresh treatment of alt-weekly mainstays such as the adult classifieds -- rebranded as "wink*" in Atlanta -- and use of creative advertising concepts like peel-away ads are just two examples of how a redesign can "give advertisers a reason to be excited about print again."
Can a similar approach work for your paper?
Reason will be in Toronto to provide a peek into the Atlanta alt-weekly's makeover and share tips on how to approach the overhaul of your print product, including the often overlooked task of incorporating your sales team into the process. Ron Reason is a visiting faculty member at The Poynter Institute and a design consultant who has assisted a variety of newspapers and magazines across the globe in rethinking the visual aspects of advertising.
"I always advise clients: why just switch fonts? Why not redesign for growth?" Reason explained on his blog. His session will leave you with plenty of ideas on how to lure in new clients with innovative marketing offerings that blend seamlessly with editorial content to create a finished product that advertisers will want to be a part of.
Can a similar approach work for your paper?
Reason will be in Toronto to provide a peek into the Atlanta alt-weekly's makeover and share tips on how to approach the overhaul of your print product, including the often overlooked task of incorporating your sales team into the process. Ron Reason is a visiting faculty member at The Poynter Institute and a design consultant who has assisted a variety of newspapers and magazines across the globe in rethinking the visual aspects of advertising.
"I always advise clients: why just switch fonts? Why not redesign for growth?" Reason explained on his blog. His session will leave you with plenty of ideas on how to lure in new clients with innovative marketing offerings that blend seamlessly with editorial content to create a finished product that advertisers will want to be a part of.
AAN |
06-23-2010 5:38 pm |
Association News
Jersey Shore Boys 'Tricked' Into Posing For Village Voice Queer Issue?
Three male cast members of MTV's hit show 'Jersey Shore' grace the cover of Village Voice's annual Queer Issue, which hits the streets today. The New York Post reports that the cast members weren't told how their pictures would be used. In a tweet responding to critics of the Voice's decision to run the photos, editor Tony Ortega said, "It's only unethical if you think being a gay icon -- or gayness itself -- is somehow bad."
New York Post / Village Voice |
06-23-2010 5:22 pm |
Industry News
| Comments (1)
Former Metro Spirit Publisher Lands New Gignew
Bryan Osborn, who stepped down as publisher of Metro Spirit in April, has taken over as publisher of The Laurinburg Exchange, a daily paper in North Carolina.
The Laurinburg Exchange |
06-23-2010 4:41 pm |
Industry News
Tags: Management
A Majority of Corporations Admit to Using Social Media WIth No Official Strategynew
Online Media Daily |
06-23-2010 10:28 am |
Industry News
Three SF Bay Area AAN Papers Pick Up Awardsnew
Palo Alto Weekly was a big winner at the San Francisco Peninsula Press Club's annual awards dinner on Saturday. Competing in the Non-Daily division, the paper took home three first-place awards (General Excellence, Technology Story, Entertainment Review) and received nine honors overall. San Francisco Bay Guardian picked up two first-place awards (Editorial, News/Political Column) and four overall; and SF Weekly was also a first-place winner in two categories (Light Feature Story, Serious Feature Story).
San Francisco Peninsula Press Club |
06-22-2010 1:10 pm |
Honors & Achievements
C.J. Janovy Says Goodbye to The Pitchnew
In a farewell column cloaked as a "Memo to Self," outgoing editor-in-chief of The Pitch C.J. Janovy tells readers (and herself):
Part of the reason you're handing over The Pitch to a new editor is because, after nearly 20 years as a journalist in this town, you've pretty much said everything about the city that you want to say -- for now, anyway.Janovy will be replaced by Westword web editor Joe Tone, who starts on June 28.
. . . it's time for me to do something else — and it's time for me to see what someone else can do with The Pitch.
The Pitch |
06-22-2010 12:28 pm |
Industry News
What is the 'Secret Weapon' of Alt-Weeklies?
Culture maven Patricia Martin says that in addition to being technologically savvy, the next generation of consumers is politically aware, hungry for knowledge, and are attracted towards brands that project authenticity.
All of this, Martin says, augurs well for alt-weeklies, which -- unlike mainstream media -- are uniquely positioned to capitalize on these trends.
"Some media outlets are doomed if they don't read the cultural trends," Martin says. "But independents have a secret weapon, they just need to optimize it."
The highly sought after keynote speaker and author of Renaissance Generation: The Rise of the Cultural Consumer and What it Means to Your Business, Patricia Martin will explain why she's bullish on the future of alt-media during an afternoon session at AAN's convention next month. Her award-winning consulting firm LitLamp Communications uses culture to connect brands with communities of consumers; and in Toronto she will demonstrate how alt-weeklies can use the lessons she's learned to create "emotional bonds" with their readers that will translate back to advertising dollars.
Martin's spot-on appraisal of the current cultural transition will be the final session on Friday, July 16, and is guaranteed to give convention attendees plenty to talk about as the evening's festivities commence.
All of this, Martin says, augurs well for alt-weeklies, which -- unlike mainstream media -- are uniquely positioned to capitalize on these trends.
"Some media outlets are doomed if they don't read the cultural trends," Martin says. "But independents have a secret weapon, they just need to optimize it."
The highly sought after keynote speaker and author of Renaissance Generation: The Rise of the Cultural Consumer and What it Means to Your Business, Patricia Martin will explain why she's bullish on the future of alt-media during an afternoon session at AAN's convention next month. Her award-winning consulting firm LitLamp Communications uses culture to connect brands with communities of consumers; and in Toronto she will demonstrate how alt-weeklies can use the lessons she's learned to create "emotional bonds" with their readers that will translate back to advertising dollars.
Martin's spot-on appraisal of the current cultural transition will be the final session on Friday, July 16, and is guaranteed to give convention attendees plenty to talk about as the evening's festivities commence.
AAN |
06-21-2010 8:41 pm |
Association News
Record Crowd Shows Up For Westword Music Showcasenew
Over 11,000 people attended the sixteenth annual Westword Music Showcase in Denver over the weekend. It was the highest attendance in the history of the annual event, of which Westword's Dave Herrera said is "like Denver's answer to South By Southwest."
Westword |
06-21-2010 2:03 pm |
Industry News
2.2 Billion Digital Media Users By 2011new
A new report by Ernst & Young says that declining per-unit prices of digital content will be counteracted by the rapid increase in overall digital media consumers. As a result, "revenue potential from the Internet and mobile devices [will] be key for big gains."
MediaPost |
06-21-2010 11:02 am |
Industry News
Tags: Electronic Publishing, Marketing
Should AAN Allow Online-Only Publications to Become Members?
At a town hall meeting during AAN's Toronto Convention, members will discuss the possibility of allowing online-only publications to apply for AAN membership and give them a chance to prove they can pass the same rigorous screening that print publication applicants go through.
Such a change would require only a minor tweak in the organization’s bylaws, but it would nevertheless be a dramatic move for AAN.
READ MORE (FULL STORY)
Such a change would require only a minor tweak in the organization’s bylaws, but it would nevertheless be a dramatic move for AAN.
READ MORE (FULL STORY)
AAN |
06-18-2010 11:07 am |
Association News
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Book by Creative Loafing (Atlanta) Editor Goes International
BMF: The Rise and Fall of Big Meech and the Black Mafia Family, by Creative Loafing (Atlanta) editor Mara Shalhoup, has been picked up by British publishing company Milo Books for distribution in the U.K. The book -- which first appeared in the U.S. this past March -- is based on Shalhoup's three-part series exposing the links between hip-hop label BMF Entertainment and an international cocaine-trafficking network. The series won first place in the Website Content Feature category of the 2007 AltWeekly Awards.
theBookseller.com |
06-17-2010 2:11 pm |
Industry News
Tags: Editorial, Mara Shalhoup
Boston Phoenix Replaces Editor
Phoenix Media has announced that Carly Carioli (pictured) will be replacing Lance Gould as editor of the Boston Phoenix. Former Phoenix staffer (and 2010 AltWeekly Awards judge) Dan Kennedy reports that Carioli will oversee the print and web content of three AAN members: Boston Phoenix, Portland Phoenix, and Providence Phoenix. The change at Phoenix Media comes on the heels of the significant layoffs of top employees last month, which included CFO/COO Richard Gallagher and corporate controller Michael Notkin.
(FULL STORY)
Media Nation |
06-17-2010 6:53 am |
Industry News
Discounted NewsU Webinar on Tools for Mobile Journalists Tomorrow
AAN members will have the opportunity to participate in an online webinar about smart phone apps for journalists in Tools for Mobile Journalists. In this webinar from Poynter's NewsU, you'll learn about the latest tools, apps and sites to help you report and publish your content. The first 25 AAN members to register will pay just $12.95 when using the discount code (you can find it here).
(FULL STORY)
AAN |
06-16-2010 2:06 pm |
Association News
Tags: Editorial, Electronic Publishing
Former L.A. Weekly Editors Launch New Literary Journalnew
Former L.A. Weekly editors Laurie Ochoa and Joe Donnelly are set to release the first issue of Los Angeles based quarterly journal Slake in early July, according to LA Observed. The full color publication will feature narrative journalism, fiction and poetry by several former L.A. Weekly writers, including current food columnist (and Ochoa's husband) Jonathan Gold. In addition, there are plans for a yet to be launched website that "will be one of the first websites designed from scratch to take advantage of the display capabilities of the iPad."
Donnelly left the Weekly in 2008 after his position was eliminated and Ochoa parted ways with the paper last year after holding the editor in chief position for eight years.
Donnelly left the Weekly in 2008 after his position was eliminated and Ochoa parted ways with the paper last year after holding the editor in chief position for eight years.
LA Observed |
06-15-2010 4:22 pm |
Industry News
Report: U.S. Ad Spending Will Increase, but Not Until 2011new
New York Times |
06-15-2010 5:41 pm |
Industry News
