The University of Arkansas has named Max Brantley the recipient of the 2009 Ernie Deane Award. "I am surprised, honored and pleased to learn I've been chosen to receive the Ernie Deane award," Brantley says. "I realized when (Larry Foley, a professor of journalism and Ernie Deane committee member) called and gave me the news I may not have sounded very gracious. My first thought was surely there was someone better." He will receive the award at a ceremony this fall.

Continue ReadingArkansas Times Editor Wins Award ‘For Valor in Journalism’

The alt-weekly recently published on its blog a state database containing the names and addresses of Arkansans who hold permits to carry concealed handguns, but after an uproar from gun lobby and death threats made against Times editor Max Brantley and his family, the paper took the database down. Not long after, the state House of Representatives introduced and passed by a 98-1 vote a bill that would prohibit revealing "the identities or other information concerning concealed handgun licensees." Sponsors of the bill argued that doing so put handgun owners at risk.

Continue ReadingArkansas Times Publishes Concealed Weapons Data, Causes Backlash

Creative Loafing has named Jonathan Maziarz as editor of the Sarasota edition. He succeeds Max Linsky, who has been named manager and online editor for Creative Loafing's corporate office. "With nearly 500 columns under his belt, Maziarz has edited newspapers in the mountains of Colorado, the shores of Lake Tahoe and, most recently, on the coast of Georgia," according to a press release. "I admire the Creative Loafing philosophy of providing a serious alternative to the mainstream media, mixing a strong sense of community with an independent spirit and a sense of humor," Maziarz says in the release. "I am ready to bring my experience, leadership and enthusiasm to the CL team."

Continue ReadingCreative Loafing (Sarasota) Names New Editor

The Times made the jump to blogging in 2004 at a time when many AAN papers had yet to do so with the simply-named Arkansas Blog. Since then, its website, which started as a niche resource for its print readers, has evolved into a daily must-read for just about everyone in the state, from politicians to daily newspaper editors and, with the additional in-house blogs Rock Candy and Eat Arkansas, music and food junkies. AAN News recently spoke with editor and full-time blogger Max Brantley on what blogging has done for the Times.

Continue ReadingArkansas Times Editor Talks About the Impact of Blogging on the Paper