Author: AAN

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Read more about the article Medill to Administer AltWeekly Awards Contest

AAN's Editorial Committee will continue to work with staff to select the categories each year and supervise the contest, while Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism will take over the day-to-day activities. AAN decided to look into having a third-party administrator after receiving record numbers of participating members and entries since the contest went online three years ago. Medill was a great fit, since the school already had a standing relationship with AAN. "Ultimately, I want people to think of AAN and Medill the way they think of Columbia and the Pulitzers or Harvard and the Nieman fellowship," says Medill professor Charles Whitaker, who will work with AAN editorial projects manager Heather Kuldell on the 2008 Awards to ensure a smooth transition.

Continue ReadingMedill to Administer AltWeekly Awards Contest

Alternative newsweeklies have always struggled to attract their fair share of political, public affairs and nonprofit advertising. Earlier this year, AAN commissioned a study by Fenton Communications -- the Washington, D.C.-based communications firm that represents MoveOn.org, Save Darfur, Rock the Vote, People for the American Way, and a host of other progressive organizations -- to find out why. The results of their research were mailed today to AAN publishers. While Fenton doesn't sugarcoat the problems alt-weeklies face in the political advertising space, they do offer several ideas about how we can improve our position. In the coming months, AAN will work on a number of action items contained in the report.

Continue ReadingAAN Distributes White Paper on Public Affairs Advertising

An unknown Republican senator has placed a secret hold on the Open Government Act, a bill supported by AAN that would improve the Freedom of Information Act. Although the OGA has already passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 308-117 and was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee, this anonymous supporter of government secrecy is preventing the bill from reaching the Senate floor for a vote. AAN strongly encourages its members to join the Society of Professional Journalist's crowdsourcing effort to unmask the secretive senator.

Continue ReadingAAN Encourages Members to Unmask Anonymous Senator

Five copies of the latest version were mailed to AAN publishers this week. Although the directory is no longer designed as a marketing tool, the association produces a new one every two years as a convenience for AAN members. The small, spiral-bound book includes contact information for member companies and their senior staff.

Continue ReadingNew Member Directories Shipped

Ronnie Virgets and his loved ones stomped the competition and will return for tomorrow's episode of the TV game show, according to Michael Tisserand, Virget's ex-editor at Gambit. "The whole family wore crawfish beads and the host (John O'Hurley) announced that they were from New Orleans, 'America's most resilient city,'" reports Tisserand, who also touts Virgets latest book, "Lost Bread," which includes his account of being rescued from the top of his house after Katrina. "I think that account is the best descriptive writing about Katrina that's been published anywhere," says Tisserand.

Continue ReadingGambit Weekly Columnist and Family on Family Feud