Sharry Smith replaced Amber Abram as publisher on April 1. Smith previously worked for the Florida alt-weekly from 1989-1999, then returned to be advertising director in October 2005. "I found myself longing to return to publishing," she says. "The reason I chose to work here back in 1989 was because I believed that Creative Loafing was in an ideal position to impact our community in a positive way, and I wanted to be a part of that," Smith says. "That's the same reason I chose to return in 2005."

Continue ReadingCreative Loafing (Tampa) Gets a New Publisher

Holly Mullen was most recently a columnist at the Salt Lake Tribune, where she resigned in December after one of her columns was pulled by a Tribune editor. She was previously a staff writer at AAN-member papers Twin Cities Reader (from 1990-1993) and the Dallas Observer (1995-1998). Mullen replaces Ben Fulton, who is on a leave of absence, but may return to the paper in a different position, according to City Weekly officials. On her blog, Mullen says she's "crazy-excited" about her new job. "I like the idea of heading up a newspaper that, instead of constantly ruminating and stressing over how to gain readers in the elusive 18-34 age category, tries to attract them with basic, good journalism," she says.

Continue ReadingSalt Lake City Weekly Names New Editor

Scott Hassenflu will leave the News & Review and the board of the Alternative Weekly Network (AWN) on May 18. In a letter sent yesterday to his AWN colleagues, Hassenflu says his "short term plans" call for "some much needed R & R" and a more active role in a home-furnishings store he co-owns. Hassenflu has served on the AWN board for the past 10 years, and has had a long career in the alternative press, including stints with the Dallas Observer and San Francisco Bay Guardian.

Continue ReadingSacramento News & Review Publisher Steps Down

Bob Mould, best known as the singer, guitarist and songwriter for the indie bands Hüsker Dü and Sugar, will answer reader questions on "music, cooking, travel, politics, religion, neighborhoods, sociology and more" in a column appropriately called "Ask Bob Mould," according to City Paper. Arts editor Mark Athitakis tells AAN News the idea "was kicking around for a while here at the office" and that the column will run "on the opening spread of the arts section."

Continue ReadingInfluential Musician to Write Column in Washington City Paper

Joseph William Watson III, a former staff writer for the Phoenix New Times, was arrested Friday in conjunction with the robberies of three Scottsdale, Ariz., beauty salons and as many as six other businesses, investigators tell The Arizona Republic. According to police, Watson confessed the crimes and told detectives he was driven to steal to cover gambling debt. Watson won two 2006 AltWeekly Awards, including a first-place finish for Feature Writing. "I'm in a state of shock," New Times staff writer Stephen Lemons says. "I knew Watson had been battling an obsession with gambling for some time, and I know he'd sunk low in the past because of it. But I had no idea he'd go so far."

Continue ReadingFormer Alt-Weekly Writer Suspected of Being ‘Salon Bandit’