"The idea, of course, is that with no competition to siphon off advertisers or keep ad prices rock-bottom, one alt-weekly might accomplish what the Free Times and Scene couldn't: make enough money to survive," Scene managing editor Joe Tone says of the recently announced merger. "And it's hard to bemoan the consolidation. Had they not become one, the two papers would have eventually become none." However, Tone notes that, for now, Cleveland "will lose some journalists." In addition to former editor Pete Kotz, who has already left for Nashville, Tone says staff writer Lisa Rab and food critic Elaine Cicora have departed. Frank Lewis, who last week was named the new paper's editor, reports on the Free Times blog that the other managers have been named. Sean Misutka and Joe Strailey have been plucked from the Scene to be ad sales manager and classified sales manager, respectively. And three additional Free Times managers have found homes at the new paper: Steve Antol is the circulation manager; Tim Divis is the business manager, and Steve Miluch is the production manager.
The entrepreneur and philanthropist died peacefully on June 29 at the age of 87 at his home in Beverly Hills. He was a principal original investor in the Weekly, served as chairman for many years, and also co-founded LA Style as a sister publication in the 1980s. "Without Pete Kameron, LA Weekly probably wouldn't exist," writes former Weekly publisher Michael Sigman. "And instead of spending 19 years at the paper, I might not have lasted three months."
Peter Serafin spoke before the Hawaii County Planning Committee on Tuesday regarding the details of the Journal's recent closing. He said that a major source of financial difficulty for the Journal was that it had to be printed in Honolulu at the Star-Bulletin press, not on the island of Hawaii. "Stephens Media owns the only two Web presses on this island," Serafin testified. The Journal approached Stephens about getting the paper printed there, but their response was, "We'll only print the Journal if you sell us a controlling interest," he said. Serafin also said the paper was hurt by Stephens' launch of "Big Island Weekly, a copycat paper specifically created to drive the Journal out of business." He said that the Weekly sold ad space below cost in an effort to kill the Journal, and compared the situation in Hawaii to the one in San Francisco, where a jury ruled in favor of the Bay Guardian in its predatory-pricing suit against SF Weekly.
The trade magazine Chain Leader talks to a number of "upstart operators" of chain food businesses, who "share their tactics for recruiting and retaining general managers as they grow." Matt Phillips, the founder, president and CEO of California-based Blendz, says he buys ads in the center of alt-weeklies to find GMs. "It does a dual purpose. It obviously is branding, whether it's an offer or a special that you're promoting," he explains. "But it also gives you the ability to say 'Now hiring. Looking for great people.' And it's in a unique position in the newspaper that people aren't necessarily expecting it, but everybody is looking at because they're looking at what to do that weekend or where's the new hot restaurant to go to."
The Phoenix and ThePhoenix.com have unveiled the inaugural "50 Bands/50 States": a declaration of the Best All-Time Band, Best All-Time Solo Artist, and the Best New Band from each of the 50 states. The project also includes an interactive component, with three "people's choice" awards, in which readers can cast ballots via mobile phone or the internet to determine the winner in three undecided contests. "I'm feeling bloodied and bruised," says Phoenix editor Lance Gould. "This list led to so many arguments, hurt feelings, and actual skin abrasions that we could use some medical attention. Luckily, California's Dr. Dre made the list."
The unionized Voice employees averted a strike early this morning, forging an agreement with Village Voice Media for a new three-year contract, the New York Press reports. "We got a deal. 3 o'clock this morning," Voice staff writer and shop steward Tom Robbins tells the Press. "We won a good victory for unions." Under the new contract, which was unanimously ratified this morning, union members will not be expected to pay any portion of the premium of their health care, and Robbins says the new contract calls for a raise.
Felker, 82, died in his home this morning. Felker founded New York magazine and exerted a seminal influence in new journalism. He owned and edited The Village Voice from 1974-1977, and also founded California-based alternative magazine New West. But as the Voice points out, Felker "proved to be an unpopular editor" at the paper. "Felker did found New York magazine, and he had some great writers there," Nat Hentoff says. "He had one of the most distinguished staffs in magazine history. He started that vogue for weekly city magazines around the country. But his tenure at the Voice was very unpleasant -- because he tried to turn it into New York magazine."
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