On Feb. 1, someone named "Ronald" posted a comment about a local businessman named Terry Beard on both the Portland Mercury and Willamette Week websites. Ronald's message "was Greek to me," the Mercury's Amy Ruiz writes, "but Terry Beard sure didn't appreciate it." He took both papers to court to get them to reveal the anonymous commenter's IP address. The papers' attorneys fought the motion, arguing that Oregon's Media Shield Law protects the information. The plaintiff's lawyer countered by contending that the shield law only applies to news gathering, not the passive reception of information. On Monday, Judge James E. Redman sided with the papers, and agreed that the IP address was protected under the state shield law. However, he noted that "if the comment had been totally unrelated to the blog post," then the shield law might not have applied.

Continue ReadingPortland’s Rival Alt-Weeklies Team Up in Court and Win Shield Case

The production manager of the Santa Fe New Mexican says escalating paper prices are the result of last year's merger between major paper producers Abitibi and Bowater, the weak dollar and the increasing cost of the commodity used to make newsprint. Santa Fe Reporter publisher Andy Dudzik tells the New Mexican his paper is "absorbing" the price increases while "trying to be smarter about papers." (See Dudzik's comment by clicking on "Permalink/Comments" below.) He also says the Reporter recently started distributing in Albuquerque and the decision "has met with a favorable reception."

Continue ReadingRising Cost of Newsprint Bedevils Papers

Ad salespeople are expected to have to face increased competition for a dwindling number of media slots being planned by ad executives, according to a new report by Advertiser Perceptions Inc. "The study finds that the number of media brands being 'considered' by advertisers and agencies has declined precipitously, meaning individual media outlets will be facing their toughest competition ever when vying for a slice of what are also likely to be smaller advertising pies," Media Daily News reports. The two mediums facing the greatest reduction in consideration slots? Online and print, respectively.

Continue ReadingAs Belts Tighten, Ad Execs Are Considering Fewer Outlets

The Express is currently accepting submissions for songs with original lyrics (the music doesn't need to be original) in any genre inspired by the Republican vice presidential candidate. The paper's music critics will review all of the submissions in the special Oct. 29 election issue, and the winner will be featured on the paper's podcast, "Radio Express," and win other prizes. Email your submission by Thursday, Oct. 23 to music (at) eastbayexpress.com.
UPDATE: Express publisher Jody Colley tells AAN News that they've already received their first submission:

Continue ReadingEast Bay Express Announces Sarah Palin Songwriting Competition

Derf, whose comic "The City" has appeared in various alt-weeklies since 1990, has just released his latest book, Punk Rock & Trailer Parks. The graphic novel "takes place in recession-ravaged Akron, Ohio, in 1980, at the peak of the Rubber City's unlikely and lively punk rock scene." It's Derf's longest book yet, and his first work of fiction (check out a preview here). In an interview with Comicon.com's The Pulse, Derf says for his next project he is re-working his first book, My Friend Dahmer, the true story of his teenage friendship with the future serial killer, as a "full-blown graphic novel."

Continue ReadingAlt-Weekly Cartoonist Derf Releases New Book

The company, which owns Creative Loafing papers in Atlanta, Charlotte, Sarasota and Tampa, as well as the Chicago Reader and Washington City Paper, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this morning, the St. Petersburg Times reports. City Paper editor Erik Wemple reports that CEO Ben Eason discussed the filing with top company officials in a conference call this morning, and said that the bankruptcy filing would allow CL's six papers to establish a greater online presence while the company reorganizes its operations. A corporate memo on the filing says it "has little to do with the acquisition" of the Reader and City Paper last year. Eason also said that the move entails no liquidation or layoffs. In fact, the Chapter 11 filing will roll back editorial staff cuts at the papers, Wemple writes. MORE: Read more about the move from Creative Loafing (Tampa), the Reader, Crain's and Bloomberg News.

Continue ReadingCreative Loafing Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection

That's the rough plot sketch of Ambition, a play currently in South Florida theaters, according to Miami New Times. "Within minutes of curtain-up, it becomes apparent that [writer/director Jim] Tommaney knows nothing about the practices of alternative newsweeklies," New Times critic Brandon K. Thorp writes. "We critics do not dictate our stories, and our editors do not cower before us (quite the opposite). Nor do they glory in negativity (again, quite the opposite; editors love it when we can say something nice about the local arts community -- it is the community to which they have the most philosophical allegiance)."

Continue ReadingBitchy Alt-Weekly Theater Critic’s Kinky Sex Life Brings Him to Ruin