"The co-opting of the 'underground' tradition of journalism into the more socially responsible and sales-friendly 'alternative' press is now virtually complete," Miami New Times' John Lombardi writes in response to a letter to the editor from Dan Sweeney, calendar editor of New Times Broward-Palm Beach. The '60s gonzo journalism was "a rancid upchuck onto the desks of the reactionary old fart editors of those times." Now he suggests that young writers like Sweeney should look at Al-Jazeera, the independent Qatar-based television station that doesn't ask permission to make everybody furious.
As the start of hoops season nears, well over 50 percent of NBAers sport tattoos. David Shields reads what's written on the body. "A tattoo is ink stored in scar tissue," Shields writes in The Village Voice. Shields asks the heavily decorated NBA stars whether they'd let a company buy a tattoo on their bodies and the NBA if it would let them sell such ads.
Several daily newspapers are planning to target youth with new publications aimed at 18-to-34-year-olds, but will they succeed? Editor & Publisher offers pro and con views: an unsigned editorial from this week's issue suggests why "da chainz" just might succeed; and E&P intern Chris Nammour argues that you can't teach a young dog old tricks.
Breast cancer awareness month and races for cures gloss over the hidden agendas and conflicts of interest in the so-called fight against breast cancer. Fairfield County Weekly's Mary Ann Swissler looks at the intense marketing of breast cancer awareness and the medical industry it actually benefits.
Erstwhile media critic David Shaw mourns the passing of New Times LA, "even if it was often shrill and sometimes irresponsible," he says. While admitting that it's "difficult to generalize about the alternative press since some of the papers ... are so idiosyncratic as to defy categorization," Shaw reflects on how alternative weeklies have changed.
The Association for Women in Communications named Sarah Fenske, Cleveland Scene and David Holthouse, Phoenix New Times, feature story winners, while Willy Stern and Liz Garrigan of the Nashville Scene, and the New Times staff won Clarion awards for feature series.
