Northeastern University School of Journalism assistant professor and former Boston Phoenix media columnist Dan Kennedy shares some thoughts on how alt-weeklies can compete in today’s media landscape:

The Phoenix is doing something very interesting that I think is worth keeping an eye on. They are doubling down on print, but at the same time they’re not embracing any kind of a paywall. They’ve reinvented themselves as a free glossy magazine. There’s still a market for quality print advertising.
I love what Peter Kadzis, the editor at large at the Phoenix said: ‘Smart is the new alternative.’ There’s still a place for a really smart alternative voice on politics, media and the arts, and that’s what alt weeklies need to try to do.