AAN News

Monterey County Weekly Survives Deadline-Day Power Outagenew

On Tuesday, the storms battering California knocked out the power at the Weekly's headquarters -- in the middle of deadline day, no less. But with the help of a car mechanic across the street and a 5,000-watt generator, the staff successfully pushed through the dark hours. When the power returned, deputy editor Mark C. Anderson writes, "we were well on our way to a complete paper."
Monterey County Weekly  |  10-15-2009  8:51 am  |  Industry News

Obama at Odds With Senate Allies Over Shield Lawnew

The Associated Press via Editor & Publisher  |  10-15-2009  1:24 pm  |  Industry News

Local Push Has Helped East Bay Express Become Voice of its Communitynew

The "buy local" and community-building philosophy the Express has been practicing since its ownership change in 2007 has paid off, publisher Jody Colley tells the Newspaper Association of America newsletter Big Ideas. "Since we've taken an active role in supporting and producing community events and working with the business community, we're now referred to as the 'media of record' for our area," she says. "The Express is typically approached first for business opportunities, story leads and advertising buys."
Big Ideas (PDF file)  |  10-14-2009  2:32 pm  |  Industry News

Dallas Observer's Live-Blogging Wins Local Bar Association Awardnew

The Dallas Bar Association honors the best legal news reporting in the Dallas-Fort Worth area with its annual Stephen Philbin Awards; this year the Dallas Observer's Jim Schutze and Robert Wilonsky took home an award in the new category of Electronic Media News/Feature Article for their live-blogging of a City Hall corruption trial, which the association says "gave readers a play-by-play account of each day's courtroom activities."
Dallas Bar Association (PDF file)  |  10-14-2009  11:48 am  |  Honors & Achievements

Oklahoma Gazette Celebrates 30th Birthdaynew

"What began as an upstart, 2,000-circulation bimonthly publication with roots in historic preservation has grown into the largest weekly in Oklahoma," editor Rob Collins writes. "To celebrate its first three decades, Gazette contacted former editors, writers and contributors to share their memories and unique experiences." Collins says publisher Bill Bleakley founded the paper as a "journal of contributions to Oklahoma's quality of life." MORE: Joe Wertz looks at the paper's future.
Oklahoma Gazette  |  10-14-2009  10:08 am  |  Honors & Achievements

AAN West and Web Publishing Conferences Return This Winter

After a one-year absence, both AAN West and the Web Publishing Conference are slated to return to the Bay Area this winter. The Web Publishing Conference will begin with a social event on the evening of Wednesday, Jan. 27, and will end on the afternoon of Friday, Jan. 29. AAN West will begin that afternoon in Berkeley, with programming continuing all day on Saturday, Jan. 30. (FULL STORY)
AAN  |  10-13-2009  10:07 am  |  Association News

L.A. Weekly Launches iPhone Appnew

The newly-launched free app "features over 200 concert and event listings that you can sort by date, nearby and neighborhood, plus over 1000 easy-to-search restaurant listings, including recommendations from our Pulitzer Prize winning food critic Jonathan Gold," the Weekly says. In addition, the app will feature event and nightlife coverage and slideshows.
L.A. Weekly  |  10-13-2009  9:40 am  |  Industry News

Sacramento News & Review is Holding Strong Despite the Downturnnew

Local TV station KCRA reports that the News & Review is "getting through the recession better than others" like Sacramento's daily, the Bee, which, like so many other daily newspapers, has laid off scores of staffers in the past few years. "We took a dip last year but it's really picking up, and as things for the dailies get worse it's going to get even better for us," News & Review president and CEO Jeff von Kaenel tells the station.
KCRA-TV via YouTube  |  10-13-2009  9:08 am  |  Industry News

Once Again, Alt-Weeklies Fare Well in Food Journalists' Awardsnew

The Association of Food Journalists last week named the winners of its 2009 Awards Competition at a banquet in New Orleans. Seattle Weekly's Jonathan Kauffman won first place for Best Newspaper Restaurant Criticism and Creative Loafing (Atlanta)'s Besha Rodell took home first for Best Newspaper Food Feature. (Riverfront Times' Kristen Hinman took third in that category.) Kauffman's victory marks the fourth year in a row that a Village Voice Media paper has won the Best Newspaper Restaurant Criticism category.
The Association of Food Journalists (PDF file)  |  10-13-2009  8:54 am  |  Honors & Achievements

AAN's Fiscal Year Comes to an End [members only]

Richard Karpel  |  10-13-2009  7:19 pm  |  AAN Staff Blog

How I Got That Story Live Chat: Joel Warner Talks About His Award-Winning Feature Story

Westword's Joel Warner, who won first place for feature story in the above 50,000 circulation category for "The Good Soldier," discussed the story with his editor Patricia Calhoun in a live chat. (FULL STORY)
AAN  |  10-09-2009  3:21 pm  |  Association News

Seven Days Redesigns Print Product, Goes With 'Short Tab' Formatnew

"This new, magazine-style iteration is the result of planning that predates the current recession," the paper says in a quick intro to the new design. The new format will be smaller, not folded and has the ability to have color on any page. The paper says that as a result of the switch, they are also saving a little money, which has allowed them to hire a third full-time staff writer. Seven Days also put together the video below to help explain the changes.

Seven Days  |  10-09-2009  1:31 pm  |  Industry News

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