The paper's editor and publisher, James Shannon, announced the closure on Friday. Shannon predicted that alternative voices like his will increasingly gravitate to the web "as opposed to the more costly print product that requires a level of support hard to obtain without excessive pandering in a free publication funded solely by advertising dollars." With a lineage that began in 1991 and evolved from predecessors Creative Loafing-Greenville and MetroBeat, the latest version of The Beat lasted 31 months. "(We) only wish we could have done it better and for a longer period of time," said Shannon. "But hell, at least we tried."

Continue ReadingGreenville, SC’s The Beat is Shuttered

Texas Observer publisher Charlotte McCann will emcee this special ceremony honoring the late columnist and former Observer co-editor on the one-year anniversary of her death from breast cancer. The event will feature an interfaith ceremony, a number of speakers, and musical entertainment. In addition, the winner of "The Ballad of Molly Ivins" songwriting contest will be announced at the Jan. 31 event. Tickets are $10, and more information can be found at www.raisehellformollyivins.org.

Continue ReadingMolly Ivins One Year Memorial Scheduled for Jan. 31 in San Francisco