AltWeeklies Wire
Criminalizing Journalism at the RNCnew

Dozens of reporters were arrested while covering the Republican National Convention. What does that mean for America?
Boulder Weekly |
Pamela White |
09-15-2008 |
Media
There's No End in Sight to the Cuts at the St. Louis Post-Dispatchnew
On the morning of August 28, unwelcome news began circulating through the newsroom at the daily: layoffs were imminent. By the end of that day, five editors -- two with almost 30 years of service at the daily -- were asked to collect their belongings and leave the building. In a subsequent interview, executive editor Arnie Robbins refuses to rule out further editorial staff reductions.
Riverfront Times |
Kristen Hinman |
09-12-2008 |
Media
Sympathy for the Newspaper CEOnew
Sacramento Bee parent McClatchy Company is headed for the bottom. Company head Gary Pruitt aims to stem the tide, or go down with the ship.
Sacramento News & Review |
R.V. Scheide |
09-11-2008 |
Media
Blogs Tell the Story Behind Baltimore Sun Buyouts and Changesnew
Behind the scenes, journalists at the Sun and other papers owned by the Tribune Co. have launched an angry (if only online) revolt against staff layoffs, management decisions, and what they see as a wholesale dismantling of the Chicago-based company's newspapers.
Baltimore City Paper |
Martin L. Johnson |
09-09-2008 |
Media
If Journalism is Dead, Then Why Am I Teaching it to Hundreds of College Students?new
The public may have turned against traditional media but it doesn't mean they don't want news and information. The challenge now is to figure out how to earn the money to generate the information, and discover the most efficient ways to deliver it. It's a new media world and, I would argue, the most inspiring time in history to be an aspiring journalist.
Philadelphia Weekly |
G.W. Miller III |
09-08-2008 |
Media
First Shot: 'Bangkok Dangerous'new
If you're headed to the flicks this weekend, don't worry too much about finding a decent seat. The total of new wide releases comes to exactly one: Bangkok Dangerous.
Orlando Weekly |
Steve Schneider |
09-05-2008 |
Media
Exposing the Bullshit Industrynew

Watch groups like the Center for Media and Democracy and DeSmogBlog.com shine the light on the public relations spin.
VUE Weekly |
Scott Harris |
08-29-2008 |
Media
More Bad News at The News & Observernew
More layoffs loom at the North Carolina daily, and the spinoff entertainment publication could be history.
The Incredible Shrinking Lansing State Journalnew
Old-timers tell stories of a vibrant newsroom a decade ago, with more than 20 reporters, including three alone covering the state Capitol. The staff took pride in its role as the watchdog newspaper for Michigan government. Today, staff levels aren't the only things shrinking. Coverage is down. Staff morale is down amid the cutbacks. Circulation numbers are down.
City Pulse |
Kyle Melinn and Angela Vasquez-Giroux |
08-27-2008 |
Media
Two Media Companies Bet on Niche Papers as Print Journalism's Futurenew

In spite of the uncertain economy and the more certain decline in newspaper readership, two new publications, the monthly Exhibit A and the weekday daily b launched in Baltimore.
Baltimore City Paper |
Martin L. Johnson |
08-26-2008 |
Media
D.C.'s College Newspapers Are Thriving -- and Not Just Because of Sudokunew

Real newspapers are losing readers by the minute, especially those labeled "college-aged." Yet amid the industry death march its farm system thrives. According to a 2006 report in the Wall Street Journal, readership and revenue of college papers has generally held steady or grown in recent years.
Washington City Paper |
Alec Mouhibian |
08-21-2008 |
Media
Conservative Arizona Couple Gets Judge to Gag Gay Bloggernew
On his blog and on a gay news website, David Nahmod chronicles a bizarre saga of a so-called straight conservative couple preying on his vulnerable ex-boyfriend to break up their relationship in 2005. He says his ex, Beecher Goodwin, has been "brainwashed" against him and to continue living with Stephen Polich and Kathryn Rock at their home in the Phoenix 'burbs.
What Killed Tampa Bay's Zine Scene?new

You remember zines, right? Those self-published, cut-and-paste, photocopied booklets that resembled collated ransom notes? During the '90s and early '00s, you could find them in nearly every Tampa Bay coffeeshop, record store and music venue bathroom. But today you can find nary a one. What happened?
Creative Loafing (Tampa) |
Alex Pickett |
08-14-2008 |
Media
What's So Funny About Baseball Cartoons?new
Cartoon of catchers talking to pitchers are a New Yorker tradition -- but why?
Boston Phoenix |
Mike Miliard |
08-14-2008 |
Media
Why is Sam Zell the New Whipping Boy for Anti-Corporate Media Crusaders?new
I admire a gallant crusade as much as the next guy, but StopBigMedia.com has the ring of an army raised to fight the last war. Why should anyone in Chicago take up arms against big media when big media's already falling apart on its own?
Chicago Reader |
Michael Miner |
08-11-2008 |
Media