Zac Crain's quixotic quest to become Mayor of Dallas looks like it may be over. The former Observer music editor came up about 50 valid signatures short of the 473 required and will be removed from the May 12 ballot, the Dallas Morning News reports. Many of Crain's signatures came from people ineligible to vote in Dallas or declared "inactive" by officials because they hadn't voted in years, according to Assistant City Secretary Rosa Rios. "We should have done a better job at securing signatures -- it's really disappointing," says Crain, who promises to fight the ruling. "We haven't figured out what we're going to do, but I'm not going to quit just yet." Crain had hoped to replace current Dallas mayor and former Observer columnist Laura Miller.

Continue ReadingFormer Dallas Observer Writer Booted off Ballot in Mayoral Race

"Most American papers look as if they've stopped caring and are just going through the motions," says the National Journal's William Powers. According to the Society for News Design (SND), he's right. The group recently named its best-designed newspapers in the world, and none are American. In an interview with CJR, SND's president Scott Goldman gives his take on the country's design lag. "You see a different attitude toward newspapering in other parts in the world," he says. "Most American papers are cutting at all costs and then sitting back and wondering why advertisers and the readers aren't coming."

Continue ReadingWhy Are the Best-Designed Newspapers Not American?

Adario Strange has resigned after one year at the alt-weekly, Gawker reports. "My goal was to change the paper into what it could be and I'm happy that we accomplished that," says Strange, who took over for Harry Siegel in the wake of the Muhammad cartoons controversy. "Having accomplished those goals, I am happy to get back to what I had been doing for the prior four years, making independent films."
UPDATE: Arts Editor Jerry Portwood will take over as editor of the New York Press, Gawker is now reporting. In addition, Managing Editor Natalie Dolce was fired resigned last week, according to Gawker. CORRECTION: AAN News has been informed that Dolce was not fired as originally reported by Gawker, but that she resigned from the Press.

Continue ReadingNew York Press Editor Steps Down

Executive editor Matt Coker notified the Weekly's staff yesterday that he's heading to the state capitol to be editor of the News & Review, LA Observed reports. He replaces Nancy Brands Ward, who left the Sacramento alt-weekly earlier this month. Despite the timing of his resignation, Coker says it's unrelated to the recent comings and goings at OC Weekly. "I want to make it clear that my departure has nothing to do with Ted [Kissell]'s arrival nor the shenanigans involving others who have left the Weekly," Coker says in his e-mail to staff. "The timing just happened to work out that way."

Continue ReadingOC Weekly Editor Leaves for Sacramento News & Review

The Molly Ivins First Amendment Award will be presented at the AAN convention to a journalist or media figure who has taken a courageous stand challenging the preferred narrative of powerful government or private interests; whose reporting and/or commentary has had a profound impact on the public's understanding of the issue; and whose work embodies the spirit of Ivins' legacy -- speaking truth to power with wit and style. All AAN members are eligible to submit a nomination to web at aan.org. The deadline is Tuesday, April 2.

Continue ReadingCall For Nominations: Molly Ivins Award

Worcester Publishing Ltd. is selling its three business magazines to a new company that will be headed by two of its senior managers, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette reported last month. The new Worcester Publishing, whose sole publication will be AAN member Worcester Magazine, will also move offices. "I'm just sort of simplifying my life a little bit," says Allen W. Fletcher, principal owner of the company. "This enables me to focus on a single publication." The sale is due to close on March 31, and the financial terms were not disclosed.

Continue ReadingWorcester Magazine’s Parent Company Spins Off Biz Mags