In the conclusion of his year-end review of media events and trends, John Powers notes that "it's striking that two comparatively small chains should face the scrutiny of the same DOJ that notoriously gave Microsoft a cushy deal in its antitrust settlement, takes no steps against America's broadband monopolies, and does nothing to limit huge 'synergistic' empires like Fox, AOL Time Warner and Disney.
Inspired by Portland police who searched the garbage of a fellow officer for evidence of drug use, Willamette Week reporters Chris Lydgate and Nick Budnick dig through the smelly trash of Portland's top brass and report what they find. Their stunt didn't bother DA Mike Schrunk much, but Police Chief Mark Kroeker and Mayor Vera Katz go apoplectic and issue press releases denouncing the paper.
San Francisco Bay Guardian asks the question after reading L.A. Times coverage of the New Times-Village Voice antitrust investigation and speaking with former LA Weekly political columnist Marc Haefele. Haefele claims "the LA Weekly to a large extent is being edited under New York oversight" and now reports on "new dresses and rock bands" instead of "things like Governor Gray Davis and City Hall." LA Weekly Editor Laurie Ochoa insists that VVM corporate headquarters has maintained a hands-off approach to the paper's editorial content and has put "more resources into news coverage." Los Angeles Magazine's Kit Rachlis agrees there should be an investigation but says "I don't think it's too paranoid to say that (the Justice Dept. is) looking into the alternative press for political reasons."
The former AAN-member paper was acquired by eXit Capital Group, the for-profit subsidiary of an educational foundation that promotes career training in the hospitality and service industries. Roy Allen, executive director of Endeavor Foundation, tells the Portland Press Herald that when it reopens on Jan. 15, Casco Bay Weekly will be a community newspaper that focuses on "good news" and features contributions from writers representing area schools, businesses and nonprofit groups.
Hundreds of Muslim men were arrested earlier this month when they reported to INS offices to comply with a "special registration" program which required most male noncitizens over 16 who were born in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan and Libya to be fingerprinted, photographed and questioned. Ben Ehrenreich reports that the INS wasn't prepared for the number of people who came into register and were forced to automatically detain hundreds of men, who were subjected to humiliating arrests.
Founder and Editor-in-Chief Russ Smith yesterday sold his iconoclastic weekly to a pair of publishing entrepreneurs for "around $5 million," according to the New York Post. New owners Chuck Coletti and Doug Meadow say they don't plan to do much on the editorial front, besides firing vacationing Editor John Strausbaugh as soon as they can find him. Smith will continue to write his "Mugger" column.
Pop Quiz: What state-sponsored university plays host to one of the top Marxist econ departments in the country? Bet you didn't guess the University of Utah, located in one of the most conservative states in the union, where the Mormon Church and Orrin Hatch call the shots.
John Heaston told the Omaha World-Leader that he is buying the AAN-member Omaha Reader from the family of the late Alan Baer. Heaston helped to found the Reader before selling his stake in 1999 and later starting up the competing Omaha Weekly. The two papers will merge and, "for now," will be called the Omaha Weekly Reader, according to Heaston.
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