The Denver-based alt-weekly won the Local/Regional Coverage category of the progressive magazine's competition. According to Utne's Web site, Westword was selected because "the arts coverage is refreshingly unaffected, the columnists routinely surprise, and the award-winning investigative work is as gutsy as it is well written." Nominees for the awards were chosen from among 2,000 alternative media sources.

Continue ReadingWestword Wins Utne 2004 Independent Press Award

Virtual Leader is a simulated, training game that asks you to play pretend (but not necessarily nice) in real-life business situations. Developed by SimuLearn in Norwalk, Conn., the idea is to teach leadership. This is done by dropping the “player” into company meetings in which he or she has to manage relationships and solve problems, with a cast of five—including Rosa Lopez and Will Dunne (an African American).

Continue ReadingNew Game Teaches Leadership

The Internet's impact as a research tool for car buyers is greater than ever. It is both a persistent influence and a displacement medium for the more traditional ways auto manufacturers and dealers use to reach buyers. CNW Marketing Research of Bandon, Ore., has taken an in-depth look at which media influence buyers at various stages in their purchase decisions, and which formats Internet users consider to be effective.

Continue ReadingOnline Newspapers Drive Vehicle Buyers

In the wake of an ad salesperson's arrest on charges of promoting prostitution, the Scene has suspended the personal adult services section of its classified pages. During the suspension, incoming publisher Chris Ferrell will thoroughly review the paper's procedures for running such ads. The decision was made after an undercover police investigation resulted in the arrest of Nels Noseworthy, the Scene's adult ad salesperson, office assistant and receptionist. The probe has its roots in a crackdown on prostitution that began in the late '90s, writes Scene reporter Matt Pulle.

Continue ReadingNashville Scene Suspends Adult Ads During Review

Newsday reports that Newfield -- who worked at the Village Voice from 1964 to 1988, first as a columnist and reporter, and later as senior editor -- died Monday night at the age of 66. After leaving the Voice, he went on to write for the New York Daily News and the New York Post, and was most recently a columnist at the New York Sun. He also authored 10 books, including biographies of Robert Kennedy and Rudy Giuliani. Wayne Barrett, Newfield's colleague at the Voice, tells Newsday: "I think [Newfield] invented a whole new form of personal investigative journalism that was rooted in a consuming ethic and a brilliant search for truth."

Continue ReadingFormer Voice Writer Jack Newfield Dies of Cancer

The Boston Globe reports that a jury awarded $950,000 to plaintiff Marc Mandel, a Maryland prosecutor, in his suit against the alt-weekly. In January 2003, Mandel was involved in a bitter custody dispute when the Phoenix published an article detailing allegations that he had sexually abused children from two marriages. He sued for libel in April of that year. According to his attorney, the jury found two of Mandel's claims actionable, one of which was a subheadline reading, "Losing custody to a child molester." Phoenix editor Peter Kadzis says the paper plans to appeal.

Continue ReadingBoston Phoenix Article Ruled Libelous