"The kind of journalism I practiced at [Phoenix] New Times is not for the weak-hearted who want approval from the powerful and wealthy, or who want to be invited to lunch with the governor and to power brokers' fancy parties," reporter John Dougherty writes in the weekly's Aug. 31 issue. In his final column, Dougherty reflects on his personal and professional development and explains his decision to leave "one of the best jobs in American journalism" after 13 years.

Continue ReadingJohn Dougherty’s Last Column for Phoenix New Times

"It's a bit mind-blowing ... to realize one's place of employment is perceived as a citadel of crunchy-granola neo-hippies," writes Pamela Robin Brandt in Miami New Times' Aug. 31 issue. Brandt is describing her experience dining at the Daily Creative Food Co. restaurant, where sandwiches bear the names of newspapers. Miami New Times' namesake comprises vegetables, mozzarella and pesto on ciabatta bread. Brandt suggests a better choice would have been the lobster club, which contains a Bacardi-spiked chili mayonnaise.

Continue ReadingMiami New Times’ Unsatisfying Sandwich

Twenty years after Bev Johnson, Alex Zuniga, and Steve Moss (pictured) produced the first issue of San Luis Obispo New Times, the newspaper is celebrating not only its anniversary but also having new owners who are familiar faces at the office. Founding owner Moss died in 2005; Zuniga, the art director, and Bob Rucker, the longtime general manager, had to compete with others to purchase the paper. Their majority co-ownership became official on Aug. 2. "We have a lot of potential to keep getting better," Zuniga says. "We're not done yet. Steve developed the philosophy and feel of the paper that we want to maintain: If it's important, accurate, and relevant, it should be in the paper."

Continue ReadingSan Luis Obispo New Times Marks 20 Years, New Ownership