Stephen Leon (pictured), the editor and publisher of Metroland in Albany, N.Y., was elected President on Saturday during the association's annual meeting. Willamette Week editor Mark Zusman was elected Vice President, making him the heir apparent to the presidency. Six of the nine remaining board seats were filled by incumbents running unopposed.

Continue ReadingAAN Elects 11 Board Members

AAN members considered the applications of 19 papers, but approved only Chattanooga Pulse, Metro Spirit, North Coast Journal, Urban Tulsa Weekly and Vue Weekly at the association's annual meeting on Saturday afternoon in Portland. The meeting included spirited debate over the applications of two Canadian papers, Calgary's Fast Forward Weekly and Edmonton's Vue, which -- like Urban Tulsa -- was forced to a second ballot before it was admitted.

Continue ReadingFive New Member Papers Admitted to AAN

The Association of Alternative Newsweeklies announced the winners of the AltWeekly Awards today at a luncheon at the annual convention in Portland. The luncheon also included a special tribute to Molly Ivins presented by her friend and radio commentator, Jim Hightower. L.A. Weekly was the big winner in the large division, taking home 13 awards, seven of which were first-place finishes. Style Weekly similarly dominated the small circulation division, earning five first-place trophies and three other awards.

Continue ReadingAAN Announces AltWeekly Awards Winners

After the after-parties are convention sessions, and convention-goers might need a little help. On Friday morning, Creative Circle Advertising Solutions sponsors the Stumptown coffee and pastries. On Saturday, Associated Press' ASAP news service supplies calculators for Fran Zankowski's financial management workshop because sometimes, without proper sleep, math is hard.

Continue ReadingASAP/AP and Creative Circle Provide Hangover Helpers

Elections for 11 positions on the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies' Board of Directors will be held Saturday, June 16, during the association's annual meeting in Portland. Nine incumbents and two new candidates have announced their intention to run. Read here to find out what they think the issues are and why they want to serve.

Continue ReadingAAN Board Candidates Make Their Pitch

Sign up for wireless service two simple ways: Click here or text "Get AAN" to 21321 from your mobile device. Verve will send links to mobile versions of the AAN convention and Willamette Week websites. You'll get conference updates, schedule changes, daily poll questions and Portland trivia. Between sessions you can act like a local with Willamette Week's restaurant guide, event listings and more.

Continue ReadingVerve Wireless Puts Portland In Your Palm

One party a night is for amateurs. AAN members are professionals, which is why we've lined up after-parties every evening this week in Portland.

Thursday’s welcome reception at the Portland Art Museum is followed by a 9 p.m. screening of "Touch Me Someplace I Can Feel," a one-hour documentary about Willamette Week's quadriplegic cartoonist, John Callahan. And then at 10, Dark Horse Comics presents an after-hours party at Ace Cleaners. DJ Stay in School spins while AAN delegates hobnob with some of Portland's top comic and film artists.

On Friday night, join the Portland Mercury staff for food, drink and some of the city's best DJs at the Ace Hotel. There's a rumor going around that the evening's entertainment will feature vicious canines dueling to the death, a traditional Portland pastime. The Mercury party kicks off at 8. If you're feeling mobile that evening, perhaps you would prefer to hop aboard the BarFly Bus (which stirred some controversy recently) for a tour of all-nude revues with hostess and party girl, Jen Lane. The bus takes off after the Wieden + Kennedy party ends at 8:30. To sign up, pay $15 cash or check at the AAN registration desk in the Hilton.

And if you find yourself looking for a short respite from the racket emanating from the stage at the Pre1 Party on Saturday evening, take a break by crossing the street to the Saucebox, which will be offering a special cocktail in honor of our special brand of alt-ness.

Continue ReadingMore Parties in PortlAANd