Deutsche Bank analysts estimate the advertising alliance between around 400 newspapers and Yahoo "could push newspapers into positive revenue territory a year earlier than originally forecasted," Editor & Publisher reports. The upswing could come as early as 2009, and papers involved in the deal could see a lift in year-over-year online revenue growth from 20 percent to 40 percent by the second half of 2008, the study says.

Continue ReadingStudy Offers Surprising Numbers on Newspaper/Yahoo Deal

"As a source of gossip, half truths, lies, slander, unfounded speculation and general lazy-ass foolishness, LA Observed remains invaluable," Village Voice Media's executive editor writes in an e-mail published on the site. "Comes the news flash that three writers have, or will soon, depart the L.A. Weekly. To LA Observed, these are not matters of opportunity but signs of darkening skies," he writes. "In a city like Los Angeles writers find books, scripts and other opportunities. At any newspaper you have the occasional clash. You might have ascertained all of the above if you ever picked up the phone and talked to the targets of your biliousness."

Continue ReadingMichael Lacey Attempts to Give LA Observed ‘A Little Perspective’

What began as a May 2004 story on Starbucks for Taylor Clark has turned into his first book, Starbucked: A Double Tall Tale of Caffeine, Commerce, and Culture, soon to be released by Little, Brown. The former staff writer "chronicles the rise of Starbucks from a modest Northwest operation to a global powerhouse, examines the ways the company impacts society, and what it says about our culture that the company can place stores literally within sight of one another and turn a healthy profit in both," according to a press release." Publisher's Weekly says that Clark's "dubious perspective on one of the modern world's most ubiquitous icons is just frothy enough to prove entertaining."

Continue ReadingWillamette Week Cover Story Turns into Book Project