Schaffer was named the paper's new editor on Monday, replacing Erik Wemple, who departed for a local news website earlier this year. Schaffer, who currently lives in Philadlphia, was a reporter and senior editor at City Paper from 1997 to 2000. He went on to work at U.S. News & World Report and the Philadelphia Inquirer, and is the author of the best-selling book One Nation Under Dog, which examines America's mania for pets. "I'm sort of over the moon right now," Schaffer says. "City Paper was the first job I ever had and the most fun I've ever had at a job. I cherish the place." MORE from Politico.

Continue ReadingMichael Schaffer Named Washington City Paper Editor

Sullivan, currently the managing editor of Baltimore City Paper, will take over as Orlando Weekly's editor June 1. Sullivan has been at City Paper since 2002, and currently sits on AAN's Board of Directors as chair of the Membership Committee. City Paper and the Weekly are both owned by Times-Shamrock Communications.

Continue ReadingErin Sullivan Heads South to Take the Reins at Orlando Weekly

"Cartoons Covered: The Art of the City Paper," which opened last Friday at the Toonseum, features 25 cover illustrations from the past decade, from 16 cartoonists and illustrators, curated by City Paper art director Lisa Cunningham and the Toonseum's Joe Wos. "This is a chance for people to get a second look at the rich and varied talent we've shamelessly exploited for years," City Paper editor Chris Potter says.

Continue ReadingPittsburgh City Paper Cover Artists Get Museum Exhibit

After announcing yesterday that he was leaving Washington City Paper to edit a new local news website being launched by Allbritton Communications (the folks behind Politico), Wemple and Allbritton's Jim Brady made the media rounds to talk about the move. Here are some highlights:

  • Wemple tells Politico he's excited about the potential of the new site: "I think the possibilities, the horizons, really open up if you look at the talent and the resources that are behind this."
  • The site will try to incorporate work from Politico and Allbritton's two local TV operations, Wemple tells the Washington Post: "We're hoping to really carve some new ground as to how a TV and web operation can mutually reinforce themselves."
  • Brady explains to Washington Business Journal why he hired Wemple: "When you read the City Paper, you get a sense they're really having fun. That's not happening in a ton of places in journalism these days."
  • Wemple says he hopes to launch the site with between 15 and 20 reporters; DCist wonders if any will be current City Paper staffers.

Continue ReadingErik Wemple Says His New Job is ‘an Enormous Opportunity’

Wemple told the City Paper staff this morning that he's leaving in mid-March to edit a new local news website being launched by Allbritton Communications. Wemple has been affiliated with City Paper on and off since 1994, and has edited the alt-weekly since 2002. Wemple says Jim Brady, the former editor of Washingtonpost.com whom Albritton tapped to lead the new project, wants the new site to have the "Washington City Paper voice and feel and sense of authority about local stuff."

Continue ReadingWashington City Paper Editor Erik Wemple is Leaving the Paper

Tom Scocca, Tony Millionaire, Dina Kelberman, Benn Ray and Emily Flake have written a letter to City Paper asking the paper to bring back Larnell Custis Butler's "Just Ask Larnell" strip, the most recent winner of the alt-weekly's comics contest. The writers, all of them judges in the contest, allege that the paper "broke the terms of the contest" by dropping the strip before its promised year run was up. But editor Lee Gardner begs to differ. "Contest winner or not, Ms. Butler's comic became part of City Paper's weekly editorial content, and each aspect of that content runs or not at my discretion," he responds. "She will receive full payment for a year's run. I have a good deal of regard and respect for Ms. Butler, but I stand by my decision."

Continue ReadingBaltimore City Paper Comics Contest Judges Want Winning Comic Back

The Sex-Positive Journalism Awards have announced the winners of the 2009 Sexies, the annual awards that go to stories that "improve the quality of dialogue around sex and create a more well-informed reading public." Seven Days' Judith Levine took home a first-place win in the Opinion category, where she also tied for second place with a Village Voice piece by Tristan Taormino. Amanda Hess of Washington City Paper picked up a third-place win in the Columns category for "The Sexist," while in the News/Features (Alt-Weeklies, Monthlies) category the Alibi's Marisa Demarco placed third and Rich Kane (OC Weekly) and Michael J. Mooney (New Times Broward-Palm Beach) both were named runners-up.

Continue ReadingAlt-Weeklies Pick Up Some Wins at the 2009 ‘Sexies’ Awards