"Before the Express can work as an advertising vehicle, it must first achieve marginal editorial success," Slate's Jack Shafer says about Washington Post Co.'s "latest strategy to reclaim young AWOL readers." New Times CEO Jim Larkin tells Shafer the Post and other dailies are trying to stem the erosion of their near monopoly that began in the early 60's; San Diego Reader's Howie Rosen suggests the papers have priced themselves out of local markets with their steep advertising rates. Village Voice Media CEO David Schneiderman says the dailies "patronize" young readers, and "then wonder why they don't read their newspapers."
A subsidiary of the Erie, Pa. company, formed in March to invest in alternative newspapers and headed by Art Howe, acquires Louisville's alt-weekly only months after its purchase of Cleveland Free Times. Pam Brooks, a longtime Louisville resident and publishing executive, is the new publisher, replacing Blanche Kitchen Brewer, who is retiring. "It was time," explains LEO Executive Editor and co-founder John Yarmuth. "My concern is the best interest of this paper, and it supersedes all personal agendas."
As every alternative newspaper publisher knows, it's not easy to move thousands of newspapers every week, especially when distribution points are becoming increasingly difficult to secure. That's why AAN members keep a sharp eye on circulation, watching for erosion, distribution opportunities and threats from the competition. Managers at 11 member papers talked to AAN News about how they keep their numbers steady in a stagnant economy.
When Tommy Russo finished college at Chico State at the age of 23, he headed straight to Maui with a truck, a laser printer, two computers and the hope of starting a new weekly newspaper. He got the paper started, but after eight weeks he was broke; it took a last minute advertising contract to keep the presses running. Six years later, Russo has turned Maui Time Weekly from a biweekly focusing on surf culture into a full-fledged alternative paper that each week reaches over 10 percent of the tourists and locals on the island, Ian Houston reports.
In another daily paper attempt to capture young readers, The Washington Post's Express will be given away to commuters and is designed to be read in 15 minutes. "So The Post is going after the hipster demographic -- what a surprise," Washington City Paper Editor Erik Wemple tells the Post. Express will debut in August.
An ad for a Des Moines-area watering hole pictures Larry Eustachy, the former Iowa State basketball coach, lifting a cold beer alongside the man who called for his resignation. The ad, which appears in the July 9 edition of new AAN-member Pointblank, did not amuse ISU officials even though at the bottom of the advertisement, in small print, is a disclaimer - "ad is purely satirical." A university spokesman called it "a cheap grab for attention." Other ads for the bar, Autographs, feature unlikely drinking buddies, such as Hillary Clinton and Monica Lewinksy.
The new owner of the Knoxville, Tenn., alternative newsweekly has replaced two staff members after telling AAN News in May that he had no plans for staff changes. Brian Conley, a developer, has named an employee of his real estate firm managing editor and replaced the paper's art director with an award- winning advertising designer, who will direct a redesign.
Glenn Rice, a reporter for the Kansas City Star, has resigned as treasurer of the National Association of Black Journalists after The Pitch revealed a year-old discipline procedure for plagiarism, the Associated Press reports in a story carried by the Star. Rice had been treasurer of the association for four years and his term was one month from ending. The Pitch last week reported that Rice had been reassigned after he used copy from another daily paper in a concert review.
Executive Editor John Yarmuth confirms to a LEO columnist that an acquisition of the Louisville, Ky., alternative is being discussed. Writer Tom Peterson says LEO’s suitors reportedly have an affection — rather than a formula — for operating alternative weeklies. "But as LEO staffers await news, the questions and the uncertainty fly, wafting through the offices, leaking from behind closed office doors and in the wake of hushed conversations," he writes. "Will it happen, and if it does, what will be different?"
The alt-weekly contrarian launches a new weekly column this week in City Paper under the header "Right Field." Smith will also continue writing his "Mugger" column for New York Press, which he sold late last year. But he and his family left Manhattan to return to Charm City, where he co-founded the City Paper (it was originally called City Squeeze) in 1977 and sold it a decade later.
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