Columbus, Ohio's The Other Paper will print its final issue on January 31.
Cincinnati CityBeat, Cleveland Scene and The Other Paper each received nods from the local chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists.
With the purchase, The Dispatch Printing Company now owns the major daily newspaper, monthly magazine and alt-weekly in Columbus, Ohio.
The Other Paper in Columbus was named Best Non-Daily Newspaper in Ohio. Cleveland's Scene also fared well, claiming first in two features categories.
Central Ohio Crime Stoppers recently named the Columbus alt-weekly its "Media of the Year," largely due to a partnership the paper has formed with the group. The Other Paper now runs Crime Stoppers' "Most Wanted" list, and the two have teamed up on a monthly murder-mystery story series, "To Catch a Killer."
The Ohio Society of Professional Journalists Awards have announced the winners of its 2009 awards contest. The Cleveland Scene won seven total awards, finishing first for Arts Profile, Media Criticsm, Newsmaker Profile, Public Service Journalism and Rock and Roll Feature Reporting. The Cleveland Free Times, which was merged with the Scene in July 2008, took home two awards, including a first-place win for Consumer Reporting, and The Other Paper of Columbus won five awards.
Four AAN members took home a total of 17 awards in the 31st Annual Ohio Excellence in Journalism Awards competition, hosted by the Press Club of Cleveland. The Other Paper was named "Best Non-Daily Newspaper in Ohio: Alternatives," with Cincinnati CityBeat taking second in that category. CityBeat also took home four additional awards, including first-place wins for Multiple Illustrations/One Story, Reviews/Criticism, and Single Illustration. Cleveland's Scene took home five total awards as well, including first-place finishes in the Best Section and Community/Local Coverage categories. The now-shuttered Cleveland Free Times won four awards, including firsts in Covers and Features. And in addition to its first place win mentioned above, The Other Paper was given two other awards.
As part of Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, a judge has approved selling the assets of American Community Newspapers -- including The Other Paper -- to its creditors, who formed the company American Community Newspapers II to pursue the purchase. The Dallas-based company, which bought The Other Paper in 2007, filed for bankruptcy in April.
Texas-based American Community Newspapers has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection two years after purchasing the Columbus, Ohio, alt-weekly as well as other media properties in the area. The company says the filing will not affect its day-to-operations and that its newspapers and magazines will continue to publish.
American Community Newspapers, which purchased the Columbus, Ohio, alt-weekly in May 2007, announced on Tuesday its intent to voluntarily remove its stock from NYSE Alternext (formerly the American Stock Exchange). The move will "save management time and attention" and also "eliminate listing fees and result in reduced expenses," according to a press release. The company expects its last day on the exchange to be Nov. 11, but shares could continue to trade on an over-the counter basis after the delisting takes effect.
