Alt-Weekly writers are well-represented in the list of finalists for the 2011 James Beard Foundation Awards. Winners will be announced on May 6.
With its March 11 issue, Washington City Paper debuts a comics page, once again making funnies a significant part of the paper’s editorial mix.
In an open letter to readers, Washington City Paper publisher Amy Austin says that "more than 600 supporters have given checks, most of them for just $20, to ring up more than $28,000 to a legal defense fund" set up fight a lawsuit brought by Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder.
The D.C. Area Online News Meetup Group will be addressing the legal dispute between Washington City Paper and Redskins owner Dan Snyder. First Amendment attorney Kevin Goldberg will be on hand to lead the discussion, as will City Paper senior staff.
Rather than add to the existing commentary on Dan Snyder's attempt to silence criticism with money, we're standing in solidarity with Washington City Paper by using the most valuable asset we have: our voice.
Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder is calling for the dismissal of Washington City Paper staff writer Dave McKenna and is threatening legal action against the paper for publishing "untruths" against him.
In the wake of NPR and Washington Post restrictions on staff participation in D.C. rallies this weekend, City Paper editor Michael Schaffer follows suit.
Schaffer was named the paper's new editor on Monday, replacing Erik Wemple, who departed for a local news website earlier this year. Schaffer, who currently lives in Philadlphia, was a reporter and senior editor at City Paper from 1997 to 2000. He went on to work at U.S. News & World Report and the Philadelphia Inquirer, and is the author of the best-selling book One Nation Under Dog, which examines America's mania for pets. "I'm sort of over the moon right now," Schaffer says. "City Paper was the first job I ever had and the most fun I've ever had at a job. I cherish the place." MORE from Politico.
After announcing yesterday that he was leaving Washington City Paper to edit a new local news website being launched by Allbritton Communications (the folks behind Politico), Wemple and Allbritton's Jim Brady made the media rounds to talk about the move. Here are some highlights:
- Wemple tells Politico he's excited about the potential of the new site: "I think the possibilities, the horizons, really open up if you look at the talent and the resources that are behind this."
- The site will try to incorporate work from Politico and Allbritton's two local TV operations, Wemple tells the Washington Post: "We're hoping to really carve some new ground as to how a TV and web operation can mutually reinforce themselves."
- Brady explains to Washington Business Journal why he hired Wemple: "When you read the City Paper, you get a sense they're really having fun. That's not happening in a ton of places in journalism these days."
- Wemple says he hopes to launch the site with between 15 and 20 reporters; DCist wonders if any will be current City Paper staffers.
Wemple told the City Paper staff this morning that he's leaving in mid-March to edit a new local news website being launched by Allbritton Communications. Wemple has been affiliated with City Paper on and off since 1994, and has edited the alt-weekly since 2002. Wemple says Jim Brady, the former editor of Washingtonpost.com whom Albritton tapped to lead the new project, wants the new site to have the "Washington City Paper voice and feel and sense of authority about local stuff."
