Eighty-eight publications across the U.S. and Canada submitted over 1,000 entries to the 2011 AltWeekly Awards. The following list of finalists is a collection of some of the best and most provocative work to appear on the pages and websites of the alternative media in 2010.
The final rankings of the winners will be revealed on July 22 at a reception in New Orleans during AAN’s 34th Annual Convention. (You can still register for the convention here)
The Village Voice, competing in the large-circulation division, led all publications with eight awards. In the small circulation division, Nashville Scene led all contenders with seven awards.
Seven Days and The Texas Observer also fared well, taking six honors, while Boston Phoenix, Creative Loafing (Atlanta), Fort Worth Weekly, Independent Weekly (NC), L.A. Weekly, Miami New Times, and Riverfront Times will each receive five prizes at the awards presentation in two weeks.
Other notable winners include the Dallas Observer, Houston Press, Las Vegas Weekly, Pacific Northwest Inlander, Phoenix New Times, and SF Weekly, which will each take home four awards.
In its first year of eligibility, Lagniappe of Mobile, Ala. is a finalist in the Short Form News Story category.
The finalists below are listed in alphabetical order by newspaper within each category.
COVER DESIGN circulation 50,000 and over
City Pages (Twin Cities): Thinkers, Commix Issue, and Winter Guide by Nick Vlcek and Mike Kooiman
Dallas Observer: Fatal Flaw, Forked Up, and Return To Sender by Alex Flores
Riverfront Times: Down on the Farm, The Gay Divorcees, and 2010: The Year in Movies by Tom Carlson
SF Weekly: Terminal People, Head Case, and Worlds Apart by Andrew Nilsen and Brian Stauffer
COVER DESIGN circulation under 50,000
Boston’s Weekly Dig: Palin, Yummy Bears, and Initiation Rites by Tak Toyoshima and Scott Murry
The Portland Mercury: Kitchen Kama Sutra, Betty White + John Ritter + Flaming Chainsaw, and In Defense of Sanity and Fear by Justin “Scrappers” Morrison
San Antonio Current: Operation: CPS, The Music Issue, and 2010 Sucked by Chuck Kerr
Seven Days: The Animal Issue, The Money Issue, and New Years’ Cootie Catcher by Diane Sullivan, Celia Hazard, Matthew Thorsen and Jeff Drew
EDITORIAL LAYOUT circulation 50,000 and over
Boston Phoenix: Real Gifts for Real People by Kristen Goodfriend
Las Vegas Weekly: 2010 Vegas’ Best by Ryan Olbrysh
NOW Magazine: BBQ Special by Troy Beyer
Phoenix New Times Picking Up Steam Punk by Peter Storch
EDITORIAL LAYOUT circulation under 50,000
Arkansas Times: Big Ideas by Kai Caddy
Gambit: Veganize Me by Lindsay Weiss
Nashville Scene: We Are Nashvill(ians) by Elizabeth Jones
Style Weekly: Power List by Jeff Bland
ILLUSTRATION circulation 50,000 and over
Houston Press: Turkeys of the Year by Jesse Lenz
Las Vegas Weekly: Escape the Fate by Chris Morris
SF Weekly: Best of San Francisco Cover 1, Cover 2, and Cover 3 by Chris Koehler, Reuben Rude and Brian Barneclo
SF Weekly: Wounded Pride by Scott Bakal
ILLUSTRATION circulation under 50,000
Independent Weekly (NC): Dad Rock by Nathan Golub
Pacific Northwest Inlander: Five Lessons from Local Schools Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5 by Jeff Drew
Tucson Weekly: The 9 Types of Arizona Politicians by Lloyd Dangle and Jim Nintzel
VUE Weekly: Sam Beckett by Pete Nguyen
PHOTOGRAPHY circulation 50,000 and over
Baltimore City Paper: Photography by Ryan “Rarah” Stevenson
Creative Loafing (Atlanta): Photography by Joeff Davis
Las Vegas Weekly: Photography by Leila Navidi
Riverfront Times: Dr. Peanut by Jennifer Silverberg
PHOTOGRAPHY circulation under 50,000
Fast Forward Weekly: Photography by Ryan Creary
Nashville Scene: Photography by Eric England
New Times San Luis Obispo: Photography by Steve E. Miller
Pacific Northwest Inlander: Photography by Young Kwak
ARTS CRITICISM circulation 50,000 and over
Austin Chronicle: The Human Centipede, Winter’s Bone, and Skyline by Marjorie Baumgarten
Creative Loafing (Atlanta): I Miss My Weird, F*%ked Up Theater, Cult Following, and Beast of Burden by Curt Holman
OC Weekly: Family Not-So-Friendly, Man Loves Goat, and Teen Cheerleader Orgy Porn by Joel Beers
ARTS CRITICISM circulation under 50,000
Fort Worth Weekly: Wall Street, Greenberg, and Why Are You Shooting at Me? by Kristian Lin
Independent Weekly (NC): Chinese Artists and Three Gorges Dam, Vorticism at the Nasher, Portraiture at the Ackland by Chris Vitiello
Tucson Weekly: The Whole Picture, Tile Roofs and Borrowed Styles, and Deposited by Angels by Margaret Regan
ARTS FEATURE circulation 50,000 and over
Miami New Times: Marked for Death by Gus Garcia-Roberts
Philadelphia City Paper: The Island by Holly Otterbein
The Village Voice: Revenge of the Losers by Camille Dodero
Willamette Week: I Think I Was There by Casey Jarman
ARTS FEATURE circulation under 50,000
Fort Worth Weekly: Ticked-Off Trannies With Knives by Jimmy Fowler
Independent Weekly (NC): Little Brother Breaks Up by Grayson Currin
San Diego CityBeat: For the Record by Kinsee Morlan
Seven Days The Breakout by Dan Bolles
COLUMN circulation 50,000 and over
Baltimore City Paper: Mr. Wrong: Make Money. Gamble Better., Booooooooooooooooooooooo, and Fall Preview Review by Joe MacLeod
L.A. Weekly: Candyland: The Man Who Wants Another ‘Life’, Maggots and Aliens and Clowns, Oh My, and Giddyup by Gendy Alimurung
The Village Voice: Kicked in the Groin at Every Glittery Turn, Where’s My Book, and Year in Review by Michael Musto
COLUMN circulation under 50,000
Jackson Free Press: Ain’t That Something, For the Kids, All God’s Children by Donna Ladd
LEO Weekly: Bar Belle: Drinks with Tyler Allen, Bar Belle Turns in Perfect Attendance, and Bourbon Soup for the Soul by Sara Havens
Metro Pulse: Midpoint: Rest in Peace, J.D. Salinger, A Luddite Listens, and The Art of Waiting by Stephanie Piper
Weekly Alibi: Miss Diagnosis: Seduction of a Nurse, Robbins Burns Rubbers, and Life and Death on the Night Shift by Whitny Doyle
COLUMN (POLITICAL) circulation 50,000 and over
Chicago Reader: Me and My Mayor, The Head Cheerleaders, and Go On, Smash It by Ben Joravsky
Dallas Observer: Hammer Time, Mr. Unknown, and Low Riders by Jim Schutze
Metro Times: Sexy Detroit Men, Why to be Paranoid, and Bing’s Open-Secret Plan by Larry Gabriel
Miami New Times: Terrorist with Friends, School of Hard Knocks, and Forgotten War Hero, Part 1 by Chuck Strouse
COLUMN (POLITICAL) circulation under 50,000
Cincinnati CityBeat: Porkopolis by Kevin Osborne
Creative Loafing (Charlotte): At the Crossroads, Fully Human, and ‘We Can Make Him Disappear‘ by John Grooms
Nashville Scene: Center of Controversy, Southern Inhospitality, and Electoral 911 by Jeff Woods
The Pitch: Transparently Awful, Missed Goals, and No-Shows by David Martin
FEATURE STORY circulation 50,000 and over
Houston Press: Asylum Denied by Chris Vogel and Patrick Michels
Las Vegas Weekly: Citizen of Nowhere by April Corbin
Miami New Times: Blow Hard by Gus Garcia-Roberts
Sacramento News & Review: Default! by Rachel Leibrock
The Village Voice: Bad Lieutenant by Steven Thrasher
FEATURE STORY circulation under 50,000
Jackson Free Press: Rush to Judgement: Trying Kids As Adults by Valerie Wells and Donna Ladd
Missoula Independent: A Call For Help by Alex Sakariassen
Monterey County Weekly: Fable Enabled by Kera Abraham
Nashville Scene: The High Cost of Hope by Brantley Hargrove
The Texas Observer: Children of the Exodus by Melissa del Bosque
FOOD WRITING circulation 50,000 and over
Dallas Observer: Artless, Work Release, and Forked Up by Hanna Raskin
L.A. Weekly: Stomp: The Restaurant, 99 Things to Eat Before You Die, and Beware the Dangerous Cemita by Jonathan Gold
Philadelphia City Paper: Minette Men, Here Come The Rooster, and Waiting For Good Dough by Drew Lazor
The Village Voice: An Open Letter to Josh Ozersky, May We Interest in Some Egg Fetus?, and Siam I Am by Robert Sietsema
FOOD WRITING circulation under 50,000
Columbia Free Times: All’s Fair in Food & War and Holiday Surprise by Tug Baker
North Bay Bohemian Coldest Beer in Town, Black Diamonds, and Building a Better Berry by Alastair Bland
Seven Days: Three-Bird Night, Fresh Fare, and Raising the Steaks by Alice Levitt
Weekly Alibi: Le Fooding, An Offal Story, and Chewing the Fat by Ari LeVaux
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING circulation 50,000 and over
Boston Phoenix: Troubled Over Bridgewater Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 by Chris Faraone
Long Island Press: Toxic Time Bomb: Nassau County Sewage Plants Investigative Series Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 by Christopher Twarowski and Joel Cairo
Miami New Times: Disorderly Conduct by Tim Elfrink
The Village Voice: The NYPD Tapes Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5 by Graham Rayman
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING circulation under 50,000
Fort Worth Weekly: Arlington Heights High School Investigation Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 by Betty Brink
Nashville Scene: Dr. Asa Andrew’s Medicine Show Part 1 and Part 2 by Brantley Hargrove
New Times San Luis Obispo Where Are They? by Robert McDonald
The Texas Observer: Agency of Destruction by Forrest Wilder
MEDIA REPORTING / CRITICISM circulation 50,000 and over
Chicago Reader: Opinionating Is Cheap, When Hyperlocal Journalism Does Its Job, and The Martyr and the Stool Pigeon by Michael Miner
Creative Loafing (Atlanta): Adios, AJC by Scott Henry
Las Vegas CityLife: A Tale of Two Newsrooms by Amy Kingsley
Long Island Press: Destroying Newsday by Christopher Twarowski and Michael Patrick Nelson
MEDIA REPORTING / CRITICISM circulation under 50,000
Charleston City Paper: The Case Against Nikki Haley by Chris Haire
Fort Worth Weekly: Aggie Secrets by Jeff Prince
Illinois Times: Watchdogs Flee Springfield by Rachel Wells
San Antonio Current: Remains of the Daily by Enrique Lopetegui
MUSIC REPORTING / CRITICISM circulation 50,000 and over
The Memphis Flyer: Refuge in the Blues, Many Voices, Many Rooms, and Life and Death by Chris Herrington
Metro Times: Promises Fulfilled, Ballad of Mr. X, and Riff-A-Rama by Bill Holdship
OC Weekly: Don’t Start A Riot by Nick Schou
Willamette Week: The Odd Couple, Sexy Back, and Agalloch by Michael Mannheimer
MUSIC REPORTING / CRITICISM circulation under 50,000
East Bay Express: Insane Clown Posse Drops the Hatchet, Ferocious Tornado Rider, and Thomas Pridgen’s Rock-Soul Revival by Rachel Swan
Nashville Scene: Everything but the Burden by Steve Haruch
Orlando Weekly: Rhythm Nation 2814, The Sore Thumb, and Frame of Mind by Jason Ferguson
Seven Days: Lady Lioness, Durians, and the le duo by Dan Bolles
NEWS STORY (LONG FORM) circulation 50,000 and over
Houston Press: Victims’ Wrongs by Chris Vogel
Riverfront Times: Dog Beat Dog by Keegan Hamilton
Westword: You’re in Bad Hands by Alan Prendergast
Westword: Martial Law by Joel Warner
NEWS STORY (LONG FORM) circulation under 50,000
Fort Worth Weekly: Private Prisons, Public Pain by Peter Gorman
Independent Weekly (NC): The Ultimate Betrayal by Lara Torgesen
The Texas Observer: A Bloody Injustice by Dave Mann
San Diego CityBeat: The Unintended Consequences by Kelly Davis
NEWS STORY (SHORT FORM) circulation 50,000 and over
City Pages (Twin Cities): Bed Hopping, Monster at the Tea Party, and Cop Killer by Jessica Lussenhop
Miami New Times: The Last Temptation, George Rekers is a Homosexual, and Things Rekers Said… by Penn Bullock and Brandon Thorp
OC Weekly: Will This Pot Case Get Weeded Out?, Crash First…, and Murder? Are You Crazy? by Nick Schou
Philadelphia Weekly: Under Press-ure, Electile Dysfunction, and Not a Pretty Picture by Aaron Kase
NEWS STORY (SHORT FORM) circulation under 50,000
Lagniappe: Nipples Catch ABC’s Eye (pdf link), Katrina Cut Project Needs Revision, and Sand Search Progresses by Peter Teske
Monterey County Weekly: Grease Clogs Green Transit, Racism, In Deed, and Scenic Spraying by Kera Abraham
Pacific Northwest Inlander: Between Rocky and a Hard Place, Lost at Sea, and Budding Tax Bracket by Nicholas Deshais
San Diego CityBeat: Lab Rats, The Snitch is Back, and Zapf Dingbats by Dave Maass
PUBLIC SERVICE circulation 50,000 and over
Houston Press: Prison Pays by Craig Malisow
L.A. Weekly: City of Airheads by Patrick Range McDonald
New Times Broward-Palm Beach: Crash Course by Lisa Rab
Phoenix New Times: Amongst Us Series: Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s Reign of Terror, Badlands, Get Out!, Seized, Grinding Justice, Russell Pearce, and Cloaked Brutality by Staff Writers and Editors
PUBLIC SERVICE circulation under 50,000
Colorado Springs Independent: Community Centers by J. Adrian Stanley
Jackson Free Press: Domestic Violence Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, and Part 10 by Ronni Mott, Lacey McLaughlin, Donna Ladd, Kamikaze, Casey Purvis, and Sophie McNeil
Pacific Northwest Inlander: Injustice Project by Jacob Fries, Nicholas Deshais, Kevin Taylor, Leah Sottile, and Young Kwak
The Texas Observer: DNA Tests Undermine Evidence in Texas Execution by Dave Mann
SPECIAL TOPIC: DRUGS REPORTING circulation 50,000 and over
Baltimore City Paper: Cleaning Up Series: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Follow-Up by Edward Ericson Jr.
L.A. Weekly: The Killer of His Daughter’s Mother by Christine Pelisek
Seattle Weekly: Toke Stoking by Nina Shapiro
The Village Voice: Widespread Panic Over the Nitrous Mafia by John Tucker
SPECIAL TOPIC: DRUGS REPORTING circulation under 50,000
North Coast Journal: General Lee by Hank Sims
Pasadena Weekly: Blunting Inequity by Jake Armstrong
The Pitch: Buzz Factory by Peter Rugg
The Texas Observer: Gone Rogue by Michael May
BLOG (GROUP OR STAFF) All Publications
Arkansas Times: Teaching Hate: Clint McCance by Max Brantley and David Koon
Nashville Scene: Pith in the Wind — Posts by Liz Garrigan, Betsy Phillips, and Jeff Woods
Phoenix New Times: Chow Bella — Posts by Erica O’Neil, Wynter Holden, and Jonathan McNamara
SF Weekly: The Snitch — Posts by Lauren Smiley, Joe Eskenazi, and Peter Jamison
The Village Voice: Runnin’ Scared — Posts by Foster Kamer, Tony Ortega, and Jen Doll
BLOG (INDIVIDUAL) All Publications
Creative Loafing (Tampa): Life As We Blow It by Scott Harrell (Posts on Jan. 27, Feb. 15, and Jun. 21)
New Times Broward-Palm Beach: The Daily Pulp by Bob Norman (Posts on Mar. 3, Sep. 15, and Sep. 26)
Phoenix New Times: Feathered Bastard by Stephen Lemons (Posts on July 29, Sep. 22, and Nov. 29)
Washington City Paper: Housing Complex by Lydia DePillis (Posts on July 16, Aug. 18, and Aug. 31)
CARTOON All Publications
Failure by Karl Stevens (Boston Phoenix)
Loon Star State by Ben Sargent (The Texas Observer)
Search and Destroy – Cartoon Blog from Afghanistan by Ted Rall
Worst Case Scenario by Kenny Be (Westword)
INNOVATION / FORMAT BUSTER circulation 50,000 and over
Creative Loafing (Atlanta): The Dunwoody Journal-Constitution by Creative Loafing Staff
Metro Times: To Bobb or Not to Bobb by Sandra Svoboda
Riverfront Times: Literary St. Louis by Aimee Levitt
Washington City Paper: D.C. Elections 2010 by Alan Suderman, Dave McKenna, Lydia DePillis, Mike Madden, Jason Cherkis, and Jonetta Rose Barras
INNOVATION / FORMAT BUSTER circulation under 50,000
Santa Fe Reporter: Anatomy of a Downfall by Alexa Schirtzinger and Larry Kohr
Seven Days: The Twitter Cover by Don Eggert, Cathy Resmer and Eva Sollberger
Style Weekly: Rock ‘N’ Roll Hotel by Staff
Tucson Weekly: Beyond the Border by Students of the University of Arizona School of Journalism
MULTIMEDIA All Publications
Boston Phoenix: 50 Bands, 50 States by Boston Phoenix Staff
City Pages (Twin Cities): Hip Hop High: Article, Slideshow, and Video by Emily Kaiser and Nick Vlcek
Santa Fe Reporter: Election 2010 by Alexa Schirtzinger and Julia Goldberg
Seven Days: Stuck in Vermont: East Charlotte Tractor Parade by Eva Sollberger
MUSIC BLOG All Publications
Dallas Observer: DC9 at Night by Pete Freedman, Cory Graves, and Nick Rallo
New Times Broward-Palm Beach: County Grind by Reed Fischer (Posts on Sep. 30, Oct. 21, and Nov. 10)
North Bay Bohemian: City Sound Inertia by Gabe Meline (Posts on Jul. 23 and Jul. 29)
The Village Voice: Sound of the City by Rob Harvilla and Zach Baron (Posts on Mar. 11, Jun. 15, and Aug. 25)
SPECIAL SECTION circulation 50,000 and over
Boston Phoenix: Boston Survival Guide by Staff and Contributors
Creative Loafing (Atlanta): Music Issue by Rodney Carmichael and Staff
L.A. Weekly: People 2010 by Staff
Riverfront Times: Best of St. Louis by Staff
SPECIAL SECTION circulation under 50,000
C-VILLE Weekly: Food and Drink Annual by Coogan Brennan, Chiara Canzi, Andrew Cedermark, Brendan Fitzgerald, Cathy Harding, Caite White and Bill LeSueur
Independent Weekly (NC): Hopscotch Guide by Staff
Maui Time Weekly: Best Of Maui 2010 in 3D by Chris Skiles and Brad Parker
