AAN News

AAN Convention Gets Rolling

This morning's sessions have begun, and with them, the first full day of AAN's 32nd Annual Convention in Tucson is on its way. We'll have updates here at AAN.org over the next two days; for pictures of the confab, visit our Flickr page. To get short but sweet updates from various Twitterers here in Tucson, search for the hashtag #aan.
AAN News  |  06-26-2009  12:56 pm  |  Association News

Five Papers Apply for AAN Membership, Six More Will Be Reviewed

Of the five hopefuls, there are some familiar names: Three have previously applied for membership and one first-time applicant is a sister paper of a current AAN member. The status of six current member papers will also be reviewed this year. (FULL STORY)
AAN News  |  06-18-2009  12:39 pm  |  Association News

After Tough Story, Alt-Weekly Disappears from Farmers Marketnew

After Fast Forward Weekly ran a story last week about vendors who are frustrated with how the Calgary Farmers' Market is run, about 200 copies of the paper distributed at the market disappeared. Several people who work at the market tell Fast Forward the papers were taken into an upstairs office. "By partaking in that kind of activity and pulling a paper off a shelf, it's just kind of shining more light on the issue that was talked about in the article in the first place," one vendor says. "It's pretty embarrassing, and not exactly what a farmers' market should be about." Market officials say they don't "have a clue" about the missing papers.
Fast Forward Weekly  |  06-12-2009  9:11 am  |  Industry News

Crafty Folks Try Their Hand at the Adaptive Re-use of News Boxesnew

The New York Times' Green Inc. blog looks at two examples of news box re-use: a Toronto artist who is transforming abandoned metal boxes into planter boxes for flowers and a Birmingham-based editor who has turned an old dispenser into a digital display showing the front pages of newspapers.
The New York Times  |  06-09-2009  12:13 pm  |  Industry News

Convention Early Registration Deadline is Friday

Be sure to register for the 32nd annual AAN Convention by the end of the day on Friday, May 22 to obtain the early registration rate. The discounted rate for members is $325 per person, and for non-members it's $425. On May 23, rates will increase by $50 per person. Click here.
AAN  |  05-21-2009  9:56 am  |  Association News

Sacramento Looks to Modular News Racks in Downtown Areanew

California's capital city is weighing an ordinance to replace news boxes on the K Street mall area and replace them with city-owned and operated modular racks, the News & Review reports. The city's proposed rule would allow dailies first pick of space in the modular racks, followed by weeklies, then semi weeklies and monthlies.
Sacramento News & Review  |  05-08-2009  3:30 pm  |  Industry News

The Other Paper Parent Company Files for Bankruptcy Protectionnew

Texas-based American Community Newspapers has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection two years after purchasing the Columbus, Ohio, alt-weekly as well as other media properties in the area. The company says the filing will not affect its day-to-operations and that its newspapers and magazines will continue to publish.
Business First of Columbus  |  04-29-2009  8:47 am  |  Industry News

Phoenix Media Tightens Beltnew

The Boston Phoenix and its sister publications are the latest alt-weeklies to cut expenses as the media industry struggles through the recession. The parent company laid off six employees, suspended its 401K matches and cut salaries across the board, with the highest-paid employees giving up considerably more than the lowest.
Boston Phoenix  |  04-24-2009  3:25 pm  |  Industry News

L.A. Weekly and OC Weekly Circulation Director Diesnew

Mike Menza, who had been at the L.A. Weekly for more than 19 years, died on Tuesday after battling cancer. "Menza led a tireless staff in one of publishing's crucial but little-known fields, one requiring physical stamina, intimate demographic intelligence and a head for quick calculation," the Weekly's Steven Mikulan writes. "Mike was our secret weapon," Weekly editor-in-chief Laurie Ochoa says. "One of the big reasons we're still alive and kicking, even [in] this economy, is Mike's genius at knowing exactly where we need to be on the streets -- and how to keep readers hungry for the paper."
L.A. Weekly  |  04-23-2009  9:53 am  |  Industry News

Sacramento News & Review Celebrates 20th Anniversarynew

"In the early years, SN&R was panned, dissed, scoffed at and boycotted. We were also loved and welcomed," founding editor Melinda Welsh writes. "Somehow -- story by story, column by column, brainstorm by brainstorm -- the paper managed to take root and gain ground." The alt-weekly celebrates the anniversary this week with a special issue featuring pieces from a wide variety of folks involved with the paper over the years.
Sacramento News & Review  |  04-23-2009  8:12 am  |  Honors & Achievements

LEO Weekly Tightens Beltnew

The alt-weekly's 17 staff members are taking a five percent pay cut this quarter to cope with the economic downturn, the 'Ville Voice reports.
The 'Ville Voice  |  04-14-2009  9:04 am  |  Industry News

Buy Three Convention Registrations, Get One Free

AAN is once again offering free registrations this year for members who send several staffers to the convention. With every three paid registrations from one newspaper, that paper will get one registration for free. There's no limit to the offer, so the more people sent, the more money saved.
AAN  |  04-08-2009  2:45 pm  |  Association News

Convention Program Focuses on Web Publishing, Evolving Biz Models

"It's clear that the old days of relying solely on display and classified advertising are over," AAN executive director Richard Karpel says. "So this year's convention will feature a great deal of programming on new products and revenue streams, and new business strategies." Seizing opportunities and getting through the recession will also be big topics this year in Tucson. (FULL STORY)
AAN  |  04-07-2009  3:36 pm  |  Association News

Podcast