Laura Fries joined AAN this week in the newly created position of Web Director and Editor.

Fries most recently worked for Creative Loafing, Inc. as web editor for the chain’s multiple websites, blogs and podcasts. She got her start in journalism at the San Antonio Current, writing news and editing the food section, before leaving to take a fellowship at the Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Fla. Fries was the food editor of Tampa’s Weekly Planet (now called Creative Loafing) for a short time before she was tapped for the web position in Atlanta.

Fries’ role at AAN will encompass a variety of web-related projects, including updating and improving AAN.org and AltWeeklies.com and assisting with conference programming. She will also share some of the editing duties on both websites with Jon Whiten, AAN’s senior editor, who has worked out of his home in Jersey City, NJ since April 2006.

“AAN is in the same position as many of its members: Working hard to make the transition to the internet,” says Executive Director Richard Karpel. “We’re confident Laura can help us get to the promised land.”

The Phoenix native, who often goes by the name LauraFries.com and maintains a blog at that address, is excited to spread her Web 2.0 love to AAN papers. Suggestions for improvements to aan.org and AltWeeklies.com are welcomed at laurafries at aan.org.