City Pages' Dara Moskowitz was the big winner last night as the annual James Beard Foundation Media Awards were announced in New York. She took home first place prizes in two categories: Newspaper, Newsletter, or Magazine Columns and Newspaper Writing on Spirits, Wine, or Beer (which she shared with The Wall Street Journal's Eric Felten). The Cleveland Scene's Elaine Cicora placed first in the Newspaper Feature Writing Without Recipes category. This marks the second year in a row that Moskowitz has won a James Beard Award.

Continue ReadingAlt-Weeklies Win Three James Beard Awards

The alt-weekly received first-place honors for Shea Anderson's work in the political reporting category and for Nicholas Collias's work in the environmental reporting category. The Weekly also took home honors in several other categories, including headline writing and investigative reporting. The full list of Idaho Press Association winners can be found here (PDF file).

Continue ReadingBoise Weekly Wins Two First-Place Awards from Idaho Press Association

That's the question we're going to try to answer on Thursday, June 14, the opening day of the convention. In an AAN convention first, our hosts at Willamette Week have assembled a panel of lively and articulate local experts to discuss the region's unique approach to public-policy issues that have national resonance, including land-use planning, mass transit, assisted suicide, sustainable development and medical marijuana.

Continue ReadingHow Does Portland Do it Differently?

The AAN member paper now has the first solar powered business in its home base of Seaside, Monterey Peninsula's largest city. The new 33,700-watt rooftop power plant will meet "virtually all the electrical needs" of the paper's 6,500-square-foot, 35-person office. Owner and CEO Bradley Zeve says he made the decision to install the 162 solar panels after years of waiting for better technology or lower prices. But Zeve tells Weekly reporter Kera Abraham that after a screening of An Inconvenient Truth last June, "I said, 'If not now, when? And if not me, who?'" The photovoltaic power plant cost about $250,000, but the paper will receive a $79,000 rebate from the state of California; the system should pay for itself in 12-15 years. "Concern for the environment has proven to be a good business decision," publisher Erik Cushman says.

Continue ReadingMonterey County Weekly Goes Solar

AAN's room block at the Portland Hilton has already sold out for the night of Wednesday, June 13. You can still reserve a room at the Hilton that evening, but you'll be asked to pay more than the convention rate of $129. (For the time being, the Hilton still has rooms available at the convention rate on June 14, 15 and 16.) For those on a tight budget, we've added a small block of rooms at $129 at the Paramount, a boutique hotel located less than two blocks from the Hilton. So if you are planning to arrive on June 13 and want to save a few dollars, call the Paramount Hotel at 503-223-9900.

Continue ReadingRuh-Roh! Portland Hotel Filling Up Quickly

One of the most popular annual convention benefits, this year's marketing idea-sharing session will sport the best radio and cable spots, viral marketing campaigns, and in-paper promotions produced by AAN members. Entries should focus on audience-building, special events or promotions, special section promotion and the like. Show off your mad marketing skilz by submitting your single best piece to Roxanne Cooper no later than May 15.

Continue ReadingAAN Marketing Show-n-Tell Goes Multimedia

Former South Florida Sun-Sentinel writer Buddy Nevins has sued the New Times Broward-Palm Beach writer and VVM for defamation and invasion of privacy/false light, the Sun-Sentinel reports. Nevins claims that Norman falsely stated that he was forced out from the daily paper over a story that later had to be corrected. Nevins also alleges that Norman falsely claimed he had an "unholy alliance" with lobbyist Ali Waldman that "ruined" him as a reporter. "This may get interesting, but there is no joy in Pulpville tonight," Norman writes on his blog, the Daily Pulp. "I like Buddy and believe he's done awesome work in his career ... but I stand by my work and wish Buddy the best."

Continue ReadingBob Norman & Village Voice Media Hit With Lawsuit