The Chattanooga, Tenn., alt-weekly has been purchased by Brewer Media Group, which owns a handful of local radio stations and websites. "Brewer Media Group is a fantastic match for The Pulse," publisher Zack Cooper says. "We are confident that together we will continue to serve up the kind of content our readers expect. At the same time, Brewer's multi-media approach offers a powerful and compelling proposition for advertisers." Cooper, who was co-owner of the paper with editor Michael Kull, will remain publisher under Brewer.

Continue ReadingThe Pulse is Sold to Local Media Group

"Layered in laughable, lopsided, linguistic humor, Hollis Gillespie's Trailer Trashed: My Dubious Efforts Toward Upward Mobility is a wonderful land of well-crafted humor within a world of spellbinding wit," writes J. Edward Sumerau in Metro Spirit. The marks the third book for Gillespie, who writes the "Moodswing" column for Creative Loafing. "I never know how to explain my books except to say, 'It's like Shakespeare,' and hope people get the joke," Gillespie tells the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "This book literally covers my dubious efforts at upward mobility, starting with life with my Dad, the drunk trailer salesman, and ending with selling the TV series (which is based on my first two books) in Hollywood." That TV series is back on track after a brief detour due to the writers' strike, Gillespie tells the Journal, with Laura Dern in tow. "[She's] been a champion of the project since the day after my first book was released," Gillespie says.

Continue ReadingCreative Loafing Columnist Releases New Book

"Advertising and consumer-generated revenues are on a steep dive that could take a devastating toll on media company spending and development well into 2009," opines MediaPost editor-in-chief Diane Mermigas. She notes that even what had previously been considered the bright spot for media companies is looking troubled: "The meteoric growth of online ad revenues, and display advertising in particular, trends downward."

Continue ReadingHow Low Can Advertising Revenues Go?

Some Republican senators are refusing to begin debate on the latest version of a federal shield law until the Senate addresses a bill that would promote more domestic oil and gas production, the Washington Post reports. The most recent iteration of the bill was introduced on Tuesday by Sens. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Richard Lugar (R-Ind.). A similar bill was passed last October by the House of Representatives and the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Continue ReadingSenate Republicans Block Debate on Shield Law

Philadelphia Weekly and Seattle Weekly both finished first in two categories in this year's National Association of Black Journalists' Salute to Excellence National Media Awards. PW's Kia Gregory took first-place honors in Newspaper--Feature (Single Story) and Newspaper--Commentary, while Seattle Weekly's Mike Seely finished first in Newspaper--Sports and Brian Miller finished first in Newspaper-Business. Winners were announced Saturday in Chicago. This marks Seely's fourth award from the NABJ in the past five years, according to the Weekly.

Continue ReadingTwo AAN Members Win Four NABJ Awards