The publisher and co-founder of San Luis Obispo New Times was found dead at his home on Sunday morning, perhaps a victim of his ongoing battle with epilepsy. This week's issue features remembrances from colleagues and friends. Former managing editor Marla J. Pugh says, "The essence of New Times was -- and I hope always will be -- Steve Moss. His extreme personality lives on in the paper he created." Glen Starkey, a New Times writer, offers: "Steve was a maverick. He was a leader. He was a friend. He was the best of us, and we'll miss him."

Continue ReadingA Tribute to Steve Moss

"Microsoft Caves on Gay Rights," published in the April 21 edition of the Seattle alt-weekly, accused the software giant of withdrawing its support for an anti-gay-discrimination bill in response to pressure from an evangelical Christian pastor. The New York Times followed the next day with front-page coverage of the story, and since then hundreds of publications around the globe have picked up The Stranger's scoop. Advocates of the legislation reacted with outrage -- vocally enough that Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates told the Seattle Times yesterday that the company might reconsider its stance toward such legislation.

Continue ReadingReaction to Stranger Article Has Microsoft Reeling, Rethinking

Internet marketing research firm Jupiter Research issued a report today that it says "reveals growing preference for online news at the expense of TV and newspapers." In a note commenting on his company's report, Jupiter VP and Senior Analyst David Card tells Poynter Online: "I think the interpretation of this data could be pretty positive for local papers. I'd recommend, for instance, that a local paper invest modestly in its online local entertainment coverage as a way to steal young adult market share from TV or the local alternative paper. It's probably more cost effective than launching a free tabloid." When Card says "local papers," we think he means "daily papers." Read the Poynter column here.

Continue ReadingJupiter Exec Encourages “Local Papers” to Invest in Web Sites to Steal Alt-Weekly Market Share

Creative Loafing Inc. CEO Ben Eason informs us that he has named Michael Sigman to head the chain's flagship paper in Atlanta. Sigman worked at LA Weekly for 18 years, first as general manager, then later as president and publisher of both LA and OC Weekly, before leaving parent company Village Voice Media in Jan. 2002. Following his departure from VVM, Sigman took over as president of MajorSongs, the publishing house of his late father, the songwriter Carl Sigman, and issued a limited-edition box set of recordings of some of his father's songs.

Continue ReadingSigman Named President and Publisher of Creative Loafing Atlanta