Last week, several news outlets reported that the coffee chain was pursuing marketing deals that would provide local dailies with exclusive distribution in return for free advertising and the papers' agreement to stop selling at competing coffee shops. Now Starbucks officials say the proposal was the result of internal miscommunication.

Continue ReadingStarbucks Backs Away From Exclusive Distribution Proposal

Voas, the highly decorated former editor of Phoenix New Times, takes over the editorial helm in Detroit on Oct. 22. Working under Voas, New Times writers won the past seven consecutive Journalists of the Year awards in Arizona, and also won the state's top investigative reporting prize for five consecutive years.

Continue ReadingJeremy Voas Named Editor of Metro Times

In an internal memo posted on Jim Romenesko's Media News Web site, Metro Newspapers asks its staff members for feedback on a proposed 5% pay cut, which it says is necessary to reduce the need for layoffs. According to the memo, company officers have already taken a 20% reduction in compensation, and top managers voted to cut their own pay by 10%.

Continue ReadingMetro Newspapers Asks Staff to Comment on Pay Cut Proposal

New Fort Worth Weekly owner Lee Newquist loses no time making changes at the top. He announces today that former editor John Forsythe has been let go and that Gayle Reaves has been promoted from managing editor to editor,

Continue ReadingFort Worth Weekly Names New Editor

Declining ad revenues have hit New Times, forcing layoffs at several papers, including five at Miami New Times. “This year has been a dizzying year for all of us,” Editor Jim Mullin tells the Daily Business Review. The local business journal also reports that the Miami paper has rehired former publisher Michael Cohen, who recently resigned his post at New York Press.

Continue ReadingMiami New Times Cuts Staff

"I feel horrible about this, really," says Scott Mervis, who joined In Pittsburgh in its early days and now edits the weekly "Mag" pull-out at the local daily. "In Pittsburgh was an institution that got built up over 17 years and for it to disappear overnight is an incredible loss, I think." Several other former IP staffers agree, including Pittsburgh City Paper Editor Andy Newman, who pays his respects to the paper that introduced alternative journalism to Pittsburgh.

Continue ReadingRIP, In Pittsburgh (1984-2001)

Lee Newquist, the owner of AAN's newest independent newsweekly, says there’s plenty of room to grow Fort Worth Weekly. The special relationship between the paper he bought this week and the Dallas Observer may allow cooperative ad sales efforts, and neither paper’s going to park its boxes on the other paper’s turf, Newquist says.

Continue ReadingSynergy’s the Word in DFW

Jim Kaplan leaves Metro Silicon Valley to return to LA and OC Weekly as classified advertising director. Kaplan helped build LA Weekly's classified section 20 years ago. Now he returns to take charge of the department, which includes personals.

Continue ReadingJim Kaplan Returns to LA and OC Weekly