When the Nashville Scene ran a five-part series skewering the Tennessean, the local daily countered with a string of full-page, color ads belittling the circulation figures of its alt-weekly competitor. Tennessean Publisher Craig Moon tells AJR that the Scene's take-out had nothing to do with his decision to run the ads. The Scene published its own ads in response and Editor/ Publisher Bruce Dobie warns darkly: "Never pick on someone smaller than you."

Continue ReadingThe Tennessean Jabs Nashville Scene

Atlantic Monthly wannabe Joe Sullivan bought Metro Pulse and helped make founding publisher Rand Pearson's vision of an alternative weekly in Knoxville, Tenn. a reality. Although he's "acutely conscious of (the paper's) shortcomings" and the economy hasn't been much help lately, Sullivan thanks the people who have helped him make Metro Pulse into a paper that is contributing to its community.

Continue ReadingMetro Pulse Celebrates Tenth Anniversary

Ben Eason, president of Creative Loafing Inc., tells the Atlanta Business Chronicle that John Sugg will "set [Atlanta] on fire" when he arrives later this month. Sugg is moving to Atlanta from Tampa, Fla., to help improve Creative Loafing Atlanta's investigative writing and to write his own column, Eason tells the business paper.

Continue ReadingBen Eason Says Sugg Will Set Atlanta “On Fire”

A photo of the marquee of a local nudie bar ("Breast of Seattle") graces the covers this week of both Seattle Weekly and The Stranger. For the Weekly, the photo illustrates the paper's annual "Best of Seattle" reader survey; for The Stranger, it fronts for "the Best of Kevin Jones' Apartment." Weekly publisher Alisa Cromer tells the Seattle Times, "It's like having an annoying younger brother repeating everything you say."

Continue ReadingThe Stranger Parodies Seattle Weekly Best-Of