Interviewed by the Columbia Journalism Review's Campaign Desk, Washington City Paper editor Erik Wemple says the reports of his profession's death are greatly exaggerated. "I just am not buying into this journalistic apocalypse," he says. He thinks a lot of papers, including the one he edits, serve their communities well. Turning a critical eye on alt-weeklies, Wemple cites predictability as the root of "whatever malaise might exist" in the industry. "Alt-weeklies do descend from a certain tradition where it's no surprise that the editorial is slamming Bush or supporting Kerry or Nader," he says.

Continue ReadingWashington City Paper Editor Dishes on State of Journalism, Alts

Recently departed L.A. Weekly writers like education reporter Howard Blume have been left baffled as to why they were fired or forced out. Pasadena Weekly reporter Joe Piasecki delves into changes at the 26-year-old Los Angeles alternative weekly that have led to staff anxiety and the filing of union grievances. Writer and union shop steward Erin Aubry Kaplan says the overall emphasis of the paper has gone to "softer stuff," but Editor-in-Chief Laurie Ochoa denies there is any trend toward "fluffier features and blander politics."

Continue ReadingStaff Departures Raise Questions About L.A. Weekly’s Vision

Predictability took a tumble at the Chicago Reader Sept. 17 when the paper adopted a fresh new design. Freelance writer Nora Ankrum tells the story behind the 33-year-old paper's transformation, accomplished through a collaboration between the paper's staff and Spanish design firm Jardí + Utensil. While some readers may miss the old Reader, advertisers say they like the way the new look captures readers' eyes.

Continue ReadingBroad Vision, Focused Effort Yield Chicago Reader’s New Look

According to the Outer Banks Sentinel, Yes! Weekly, "an alternative newspaper" that "will focus on the cultural, political and artistic aspects of [Greensboro, N.C.]" is set to begin publication in January 2005. The paper is a venture of Womack Newspapers, Inc., which is a division of Womack Publishing Co., a publisher of 21 papers -- two of them dailies -- in Virginia, North Carolina and Colorado. Yes! will be distributed free to more than 300 racks and business locations throughout the city.

Continue ReadingNew Weekly Launches in North Carolina

For the third quarter in a row, the three top online job boards showed far greater year-over-year revenue growth from classified listings than did print newspapers, according to Corzen, Inc., a niche market research firm.

Continue ReadingOnline Employment Ads Soar