Google has agreed to sponsor the opening night cocktail reception at this year's convention, and will also be making presentations focusing on both its ad-server software Ad Manager, and its ad network AdSense. The Ad Manager presentation will be a follow-up to an exclusive webinar for AAN members led by senior ad serving consultant Mark Wolly. All AAN member publishers and senior managers will receive email invitations to the webinar, which is scheduled for April 23, and there is no limit to the number of people at each company who can participate. The 32nd Annual AAN Convention is scheduled for June 25-27 in Tucson.

Continue ReadingGoogle to Host Webinar, Participate in AAN Convention

"I had a great morning today," CityBeat publisher Will Swaim told L.A. Weekly on Friday. "I came to work and hurled in the 'executive bathroom,' brushed my teeth and made the announcement." Swaim and senior editor Matt Fleischer both say there hadn't been any chatter about the paper closing in the last few weeks, and there wasn't any discussion of making CityBeat biweekly or online-only. MORE: The Los Angeles Times says the paper's closure "will -- at least temporarily -- silence more critical voices on arts and entertainment in Los Angeles."

Continue ReadingMore on the Los Angeles CityBeat Closure

Southland Publishing president Bruce Bolkin announced this morning that the alt-weekly's March 26 issue will be its last. "For 6 years, the Los Angeles CityBeat has offered a fresh perspective to the readers of Los Angeles, and Southland is extremely proud of its writers and entire staff who have contributed to the paper," says Bolkin.

Continue ReadingLos Angeles CityBeat Shuttered

The committee passed The Free Flow of Information Act (H.R. 985) yesterday, and the legislation will now go to the full House for a vote. Several Republicans on the committee criticized the bill, which would prevent a federal court from compelling testimony from journalists or their sources in most cases.

Continue ReadingShield Law Passes House Judiciary Committee

Brand X is a "new multimedia editorial product" being rolled out by the Los Angeles Times "aimed at younger, social-networking readers who are interested in culture, technology, entertainment, food, events, volunteering, style and the outdoors." It will take the place of Metromix in L.A. and will be headed up by former alt-weekly editors Deborah Vankin and Dean Kuipers.

Continue ReadingLA Times Turns Metromix into ‘Brand X’