Getting From the Airport to the Hotel

T.O.'s airport is Lester B. Pearson International, one of the busiest in North America. It's located 45 minutes -- about a $55 cab ride -- from downtown.

In addition to taxi and limo services, at about one-third the cost of cabbing it, an Airport Express Shuttle runs from the arrivals terminal to downtown every 40 minutes between 4:15 am and 11:10 pm. The nearest dropoff point is across from the hotel at the corner of York and Richmond Streets. Note: travelers may save 10% by booking online. Fares increase July 1, so you may want to book before then to save a few additional dollars.

Cheaper still -- $3.00 -- is the TTC city bus that runs between the airport and the Kipling subway station in the city's west end. From Kipling station, travel eastbound to St. George station and jump on the southbound train to the Osgoode station -- from here it's just a short walk to the Hilton Toronto.  

[posted June 24, 2010]

Put Your Papers on Display

Even though AAN is considering admitting online publications, members still publish papers week in and week out. If you want to show your hard work to fellow AAN members, ship a few copies to the Convention. We suggest from 25 to 30 copies, but you may send as many you want. Schedule your shipment -- preferably one that can be tracked -- to arrive by Tues. July 13. Then remember to come down to the exhibit area in the Toronto Ballroom Foyer and see what other members are doing. Use the label here to send them to:

****Deadline has been extended to Tues. July 13.


Creative Visual Solutions
2380 South Service Road West
Oakville, Ontario, Canada
L6L 5M9
(905) 338-6955

 

**If you plan to bring your papers with you to the Convention, let us know so we can hold a spot for you.

[posted June 23, 2010]

Early Registration Deadline Extended!

Register by June 25 to get the early registration rate. You've got an extra week to wrangle your staff and register for the Toronto Convention. Rates go up by $50 after that, so don't delay. [posted June 9, 2010]

AAN Members Buy Three, and Get the Fourth Free

We are once again offering free registrations for member papers that step up to the plate registration-wise. You pay for three registrations for representatives of the same paper, and we'll give you a fourth registration for free. And there is no limit: You pay for six, we give you two for free, you pay for nine, we give you three for free, etc. [posted June 8, 2010]

Toronto on Tour

If you've got time outside of the seminars to see this great city, you can choose land, air or sea options. So check out ways to check out the city and see more of T.O while you're there. [posted June 3, 2010]

Know Your Phone...Charges

U.S. attendees are advised to check with their individual cell phone carriers regarding additional charges that may apply while in Canada. Unless paying lots of additional money is your thing, check with your carrier to avoid unecessary or surprise charges for international service, roaming, data charges and whatever else the companies can potentially add to your bill. [posted May 3, 2010]

Do I Need a Passport?

Travel documentation: Effective June 1, 2009, all U.S. citizens are now required to present a passport book, passport card, or WHTI-compliant document when re-entering the United States.

U.S. citizens traveling by air will need a passport to re-enter the United States.

The passport card is only valid for land and sea travel between the U.S. and Canada.

For official international travel documentation information, check the U.S. Department of State website. Be advised that there are private companies offering passport assistance for various fees. Some of these sites resemble the U.S. Department of State website, so be sure you are on the right site.

[posted April 29, 2010]

Eh Eh N in 2010

Eh Eh N in 2010 -- Kinda rolls off your tongue, eh? NOW Magazine will host this confab and show you just how great and welcoming Toronto can be. Take a look around the site to get your documention, travel, hotel and registration info. Be sure to check back: we'll be posting updates here regularly as we add more speakers, sessions and social events. [posted April 29, 2010]

Back by Popular Demand

The Web Publishing Conference will take place Jan. 27-29 at the Argonaut Hotel near San Francisco's famed Fisherman's Wharf. The conference will begin with a reception on the evening of Wednesday, Jan. 27, which will be followed by one and a half days of programming, ending at noon on Friday, Jan. 29.

The programming will feature a mix of of plenary sessions and workshops, with many panel discussions and AAN-member-led sessions discussing web publishing issues on both the business and editorial side, including social media, local ad sales, email newsletters, search engine optimization, interface design, iPhone apps and how different papers handle the new web-based work in their organizations. Confirmed speakers include Evan Smith of the newly launched TexasTribune.org, as well as in-house talents like Village Voice Media's Bill Jensen, The Stranger's Tim Keck and Creative Loafing's Patrick Mersinger.

[posted December 17, 2009]

Your Chance to Try EBX Bleeding Heart Lager

Where? At the AAN West opening night reception. Blakes on Telegraph is the location of Friday evening's cocktail party hosted by the East Bay Express. It's a short 10-minute walk from the hotels to downtown Berkeley, where Blakes on Telegraph will open its doors to the AAN West crew. There will be some light bites and plenty of drinks -- the new locally-brewed East Bay Express beer, EBX Bleeding Heart Lager, will be on tap as well. Things get underway right after sessions end on Friday and will run until 8 pm. The party is included for AAN West registrants, but guest tix are available for $25. Web Conference attendees are welcome to purchase a guest ticket and make your way across the Bay.

Blakes on Telegraph
2367 Telegraph Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 848-0886
Located at the corner of Durant and Telegraph Avenue (six short blocks West of the hotels).

[posted December 1, 2009]

AAN West Returns

AAN West 2010 returns with a great line-up of top-notch programming for line-level staff in sales, editorial, design/production and business. This programming was developed by a planning committee representative of all newsweekly departments and from seven Northern California AAN members. Attendees at AAN West will have the opportunity to learn new and reinforce current skills, network with peers and gain a deeper appreciation of alt. weeklies as career paths. [posted December 1, 2009]

Need a Foundation?

Foundation, the content management system developed by The Stranger/Portland Mercury and DesertNet, is now scheduling 45 minutes demos at the convention. Click here to get more info about Foundation and reserve your spot. [posted June 23, 2009]

Schedule a One-on-One Coaching Session with Laura Dell

As another convention service, Laura Dell will be providing one-on-one coaching sessions to help you with the people and/or process challenges that are under your skin. Laura is a leadership consultant that has served many AAN papers. Sign up in advance or when you get to the convention. Laura can be contacted before the convention by email or at (847) 682-4694. [posted June 18, 2009]

Show Us What You Got

Week in and week out, you crank out your paper. Show us the fruits of your labor by sending copies to the Convention. We suggest from 25 to 30 copies, but you may send as many you want. Schedule your shipment -- preferably one that can be tracked -- to arrive by Weds., Jun. 24. Then remember to come down to the exhibit area in the Ballroom Foyer and see what other members are doing. Send them to:
AAN Convention Newspaper Display
US EXPO & Convention Services
1859 W. Grant Road, Suite 107
Tucson, AZ. 85745
(520) 573-3200 [posted June 8, 2009]

JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort Deadline Extended

Yes, there’s still time to make your reservation at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort for the AAN Convention. The new deadline is June 12, but don’t delay…reservations are just a click away. [posted June 5, 2009]

Barflies, Rejoice! The Great Dives of Tucson for a Mere $25

The Tucson Weekly believes that our city has some of the best dive bars anywhere -- and we'll prove it to you with this optional bus tour. We'll transport you to Tucson's best (or worst, in a good way) dive bars. After the drunken revelry, the bus will take you back to the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort. Click here to see where you may (or may not) wind up. Sign up for the tour at the Convention Registration Desk. [posted May 28, 2009]

Bring Your Walking Shoes

Bring your walking shoes and sunscreen and join Tucson Weekly Account Executive Laura Bohling and Circulation Manager (and Convention Jane-of-all-Trades) Laura Horvath on a morning walk/hike on Friday, June 26. You'll head off into Tucson Mountain Park adjacent to the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort and have a firsthand chance to experience the beauty of the Sonoran Desert. If that doesn't fit your schedule, check with the resort's concierge for the times of hotel-led hikes. [posted May 26, 2009]

Early Registration Deadline Approaches

Save $50 by registering for the Annual Convention by May 22. Click here to register. [posted May 19, 2009]

Why Should Publishers Send Their Staff to the Convention?

"It's a way of rewarding people at a time when we're really demanding a lot from them," says Seven Days' Paula Routly, who will be making the long trip from Burlington, Vt. to Tucson with four of her employees. Isthmus' Vince O'Hern, who is also sending four staffers, adds a couple of practical benefits:  "It's the best way I know to expose them to the most current thinking and knowledge in their various disciplines. They also come back with a lot of practical ideas that have been field-tested in other markets." Read more here. [posted May 15, 2009]

Getting from the Airport to the Hotel

It's 13 miles from the Tucson airport to the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort. Attendees not renting a car have the option of using the commercial airport shuttle, taxi, or private car. Hiring a private car may provide an economical option for attendees traveling in a group. Click on the Transportation link on the left for additional information on various ground transportation options.

[posted May 8, 2009]

A Deal on Car Rentals

Enterprise is offering AAN convention attendees a five-percent  discount on car-rental rates and the flexibility to pick cars up and drop them off at the airports in Tucson or Phoenix. Only want a car for a day or two? Enterprise will pick you up at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort and take you to their downtown Tucson location. Click on the Transportation link on the left for complete details. Note: Construction continues on Interstate 10, so check the Arizona Department of Transportation page and be sure to get clear directions from Enterprise or by calling the Resort.

[posted May 5, 2009]

Sonoran Sunset Welcome Reception

The Ania Terrace of the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort is the place to be on opening night of the Convention. Chat up old friends and make new ones over a drink and light hors d'oeuvres as you enjoy the view of the city of Tucson below -- all while surrounded by the beauty of the Sonoran Desert. And say a thank-you to the folks from Google for their sponsorship. [posted April 28, 2009]

JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort -- Activities Galore

The JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort offers a range of activities for the entire family. Cool off in the pool, float down the Starr Canyon River, take a morning hike or bike ride. Check their site for a complete list of activities, including programs just for the kids. Be sure to bring your gear. [posted April 20, 2009]

Air Travel: Fly into Tucson...or Phoenix

Although located just 13 miles from the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort, Tucson International Airport may not be your only airport choice. Some attendees may want to investigate flights in and out of Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport. Sky Harbor is located about 115 miles and a 90-minute to two-hour drive to the convention site. Visit both sites for valuable travel info. [posted April 15, 2009]

Convention Program Focuses on Web Publishing, Evolving Biz Models

"It's clear that the old days of relying solely on display and classified advertising are over," AAN executive director Richard Karpel says. "So this year's convention will feature a great deal of programming on new products and revenue streams, and new business strategies." Seizing opportunities and getting though the recession will also be big topics this year in Tucson. [posted April 7, 2009]

Dan Savage to Host AltWeekly Awards Luncheon

The Stranger's editorial director and syndicated sex columnist has been tapped to reprise his role as host of the AltWeekly Awards Luncheon at this year's AAN Convention on Friday, June 26.
[posted April 3, 2009]

Free Press Advocate to Speak at Convention

Lucy Dalglish, the executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP), will be the First Amendment Lunch speaker on Saturday, June 27. She will discuss what we can expect from the Obama administration in terms of open government and press freedom issues. [posted April 3, 2009]

AAN Members -- Buy Three, and Get the Fourth Free

We are once again offering free registrations for member papers that step up to the plate registration-wise. You pay for three registrations for representatives of the same paper, and we'll give you a fourth registration for free. And there is no limit: You pay for six, we give you two for free, you pay for nine, we give you three for free, etc. [posted February 4, 2009]

D&P Track on Hiatus

The Great Depression 2.0 has forced us to cancel this year's dedicated track for Design & Production programming. However, we will include some programming in the editorial and web streams that will be of interest to the art directors and production managers who plan to join us in Tucson. We'll also organize roundtables and other networking opportunities. [posted February 4, 2009]

See You in Tucson

Great resort -- bring the family and stay a little longer!

 

Great host paper -- the folks at the Tucson Weekly are gonna treat you right.

 

Great programming -- to help you get through the tough times.

 

Great food and drink -- did someone say margaritas?

 

Don't miss it!

[posted January 29, 2009]

Show Us What You Got

Week in and week out, you crank out your paper. Show us the fruits of your labor by sending copies to the Convention. We suggest from 25 to 50 copies, but you may send as many you want. Schedule your shipment -- preferably one that can be tracked --  to arrive by Mon., June 2. Then remember to come down to the exhibit area on the Second Floor Bridge and see what other members are doing. Send them to:

31st Annual AAN Convention
SHOW MGNT PAPER DISPLAY
c/o Metropolitan Exposition Services, Inc.
c/o Atlantic City - Philadelphia Express
4235 Richmond Street
Philadelphia, PA 19134
tel: 215-743-5490

[posted May 22, 2008]

See More of Philly with GPTMC

Just in case the seminars, parties and after-parties aren't enough to fill your days at the Convention, you may want to join one of the special morning experiences our sponsor GPTMC has created just for convention attendees. Each tour will have one official guide and an assistant. Friday, June 6, provides an opportunity to see some eclectic art with Mirrors, Mosaics and Magic: A Morning Inside South Street's Magic Garden, which includes a visit to Philadelphia's Magic Garden (shown above). Saturday morning offers a Rare, Private Tour of the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Not only will you have a chance to explore America's icons -- the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall -- you'll also get to the rarely visited second floor of Congress Hall. All tours are limited to 25 participants and advance registration by May 30 is required. Please visit the Special Events page for descriptions and registration information.

[posted May 19, 2008]

'Show Us Your Stuff!' Returns

Really, it's show and tell time--or share and steal time--for great ideas from AAN art directors and designers. That's YOU! Share your covers and pages with colleagues and talk about what works and what doesn't. You'll find an idea or two to call your own in the process! Start gathering those PDFs of covers and layouts that you've loved and hated and send them to jmacleod@citypaper.com by May 29. Those not attending the convention are also encouraged to submit files! [posted April 29, 2008]

Think of it as Kinda Like AAN East

A new twist this year: The final day of the convention will feature sales training seminars for beginning- and intermediate-level sales staff that will be accessible under a separate, less-expensive registration schedule. The idea is to provide regional training for papers in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions who would have sent sales staff to AAN East, which was canceled this year. We've lined up two highly regarded professional speakers -- Rita Bailey and Dianne Ciotta -- to provide the training.  This special program is $125 for AAN members and $200 for non-members (until May 16) and the separate registration includes access to the Bailey and Ciotta sessions, as well as the convention parties on Friday and Saturday. Fully registered convention registrants will also be allowed to attend these special sales-training seminars. [posted April 3, 2008]

AAN Heads Back East

This year's AAN Convention heads back to the East Coast -- Philadelphia, to be exact. The Declaration of IndependAANts, the association's 31st annual convention, will be hosted by the Philadelphia City Paper from June 5-7 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. As always, AAN has lined up a mix of special speakers, brass-tacks programming, and plenty of food, drink and revelry. The Philadelphia Marriott Downtown is the headquarters hotel. Seminars will be held at the nearby Pennsylvania Convention Center.

[posted March 26, 2008]

Attending Friday's Sales Session?

Kathi Simonsen's session, "Skills for Media Growth," will be most useful to you if you bring real world examples to work on.

To gain the maximum benefit from this workshop, please select three accounts that you want to focus on. They should be accounts that have potential to run more ads in your paper. Please ask them the following questions so that you can understand their needs. Get as many answers as you can.

1. What is your target market?
2. Who is on the marketing team? What roles do each play?
3. How do you spend your marketing budget? What is most effective? Least?
4. What market trends are affecting you?
5. What are your company's strengths? Challenges?
6. What is your unique selling position? (or: What separates you from your competition?)
7. How do your customers describe your company?
8. How do you describe yourselves?
9. What are the challenges that you are facing in marketing your product/service?

[posted January 17, 2008]

Business Attendees: Got a Question? Ask an Expert!

BY THIS FRIDAY, JAN. 11: If you've got any last-minute questions you'd like to add to the agenda for either "HR Roundtable with an Expert" or "Credit and  Collections Q&A With An Expert," please send them to Mike Naar mnaar@paweekly.com.

Also, please bring case studies from your experience and we can discuss them at the roundtables. [posted January 10, 2008]

Design & Production Attendees: Send us your Stuff!

BY THIS FRIDAY, JAN. 11: Please submit a complete PDF (cover to back) of your paper to be included in the critique. Please go to www.yousendit.com and send your file, using this interface (100 mb maximum), to annel@newsreview.com. Also, please bring copies of several additional issues to pass around.

BY NEXT FRIDAY, JAN. 18: Please submit two to three print and or web ads that you would like suggestions on how to improve. Please email annel@newsreview.com.

If you have any questions or problems with your files, please contact Anne Lesemann at (916) 498-1234, ext. 1391 or annel@newsreview.com. [posted January 8, 2008]

Get fired up

The Bay Guardian invites you to join them at Element Lounge. Imbibe complimentary, luscious libations while the DJ tantalizes you with musical delights. Saturday, February 2, 2008 at the Element Lounge, 1028 Geary Street, San Francisco. 5-8pm. Free for AAN West attendees. [posted December 27, 2007]

Everything but the chronic

Need a salivating reason to make your AAN West reservations now?

This year's opening night Cocktail Party is being sponsored by one of our newest AAN members, the North Coast Journal from Humboldt County, Calif. The Journal is importing one of its top caterers, Savory Thyme Co., and a truckload of homegrown and brewed products -- right into the heart of San Francisco.

Featured will be cheeses by Cypress Grove Chevre, winner of the prestigious Outstanding Product Line 2007 award the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City. The line includes the international award-winning Humboldt Fog chevre as well as the newly released Truffle Tremor. Nosh on smoked wild salmon and ’shrooms while you sip a Steelhead Pale Ale by Mad River Brewing Co. or the gold medal super Tuscan blend, "il Montaggio," produced and bottled by Fieldbrook Winery.

And how about Humboldt County's most famous homegrown product, the one The Economist magazine says has surpassed grapes as the No. 1 agricultural crop in the state?

You're on your own. But then, it is San Francisco. How hard can it be? [posted November 30, 2007]

Register Today!

The second AAN Web Publishing Conference is scheduled for Jan 30 - Feb 1, 2008 at the Hotel Kabuki in San Francisco. The conference will begin with a cocktail party on the evening of Wednesday, Jan. 30, and will follow with a full day of programming on Thursday, Jan. 31 and a half-day of programming on Friday, Feb. 1.

Conference programming will be designed for publishers, editors,
web-publishing personnel, and other managers with responsibility for their paper's website operations. Topics that will be addressed include:
  • Podcasting and Video
  • Advertising: Operations and Technology
  • User-Generated Content
  • E-Mail Newsletters
  • Social Networking
  • Web Analytics
  • Legal Issues
  • Tagging and Folksonomies
  • Trends, New Technologies

Speakers who have already been confirmed are Dave Morgan of Tacoda Systems; Thomas Vander Wal of InfoCloud Solutions; Jason Schwartz of Angelsoft and Robber Baron Music; and Thomas Burke of Davis Wright, Tremaine. The complete program will be announced in November.

The first AAN Web Publishing Conference, held in San Francisco in Oct., 2006, was the highest-rated conference in AAN history, with 87 percent of the post-conference survey respondents giving it the highest possible score. But don't take our word for it: click here to download a PDF of the survey results.

[posted October 12, 2007]

A New Take on an Old Favorite

AAN West was organized differently this year than it has been in the past, with a group of publishers in northern California doing most of the heavy lifting. The committee, chaired by Deborah Redmond, News & Review, has put together a dynamite staff training conference. So mark your calendar for February 1st and 2nd, 2008!

Redmond would like to thank the AAN West Planning Committee members for all their hard work:
Bradley Zeve, Monterey County Weekly: Meals, Muffins and Micro-Management
Tim Redmond, SF Bay Guardian: Editorial Programs
Mike Naar, Embarcadero Publishing Company: Business Programs
Anne Lesemann, News & Review: Design & Production Programs
Judy Hodgson, North Coast Journal Weekly: Cocktail Party
Sam Chapman, Pacific Sun: Venue Search & Logistics
Jody Colley, East Bay Express: Sales Programs and Sponsorships [posted October 5, 2007]
Conventioneers checking out WW's racks in downtown Portland will be greeted by some familiar faces.
Photo by Jon Whiten
Conventioneers checking out WW's racks in downtown Portland will be greeted by some familiar faces.

Verve Wireless Puts Portland in Your Palm

Sign up for wireless service two simple ways: Click here or text "Get AAN" to 21321 from your mobile device. Verve will send links to mobile versions of the AAN convention and Willamette Week websites. You'll get conference updates, schedule changes, daily poll questions and Portland trivia. Between sessions you can act like a local with Willamette Week's restaurant guide, event listings and more. [posted June 13, 2007]

More Parties in Portland

One party a night is for amateurs. AAN members are professionals, which is why we've lined up after-parties every evening this week in Portland.

Thursday’s welcome reception at the Portland Art Museum is followed by a 9 p.m. screening of "Touch Me Someplace I Can Feel," a one-hour documentary about Willamette Week's quadriplegic cartoonist, John Callahan. And then at 10, Dark Horse Comics presents an after-hours party at Ace Cleaners. DJ Stay in School spins while AAN delegates hobnob with some of Portland's top comic and film artists.

On Friday night, join the Portland Mercury staff for food, drink and some of the city's best DJs at the Ace Hotel. There's a rumor going around that the evening's entertainment will feature vicious canines dueling to the death, a traditional Portland pastime. The Mercury party kicks off at 8. If you're feeling mobile that evening, perhaps you would prefer to hop aboard the BarFly Bus (which stirred some controversy recently) for a tour of all-nude revues with hostess and party girl, Jen Lane. The bus takes off after the Wieden + Kennedy party ends at 8:30. To sign up, pay $15 cash or check at the AAN registration desk in the Hilton.

And if you find yourself looking for a short respite from the racket emanating from the stage at the Pre1 Party on Saturday evening, take a break by crossing the street to the Saucebox, which will be offering a special cocktail in honor of our special brand of alt-ness.

[posted June 13, 2007]

Pre-1 Party: Your Turn to be a Rock Star

There will be lots of parties this weekend in Portland, but if you have any musical talent the last one will be hard to top. On Saturday evening, Pre1 Software will host a jam session at the Tugboat Brewing Company, a funky little club where they'll supply the instruments so you can take turns onstage rocking out with your fellow AANies. Or you can just stop by for some microbrews and join the shindig. [posted June 13, 2007]

ASAP/AP and Creative Circle Provide Hangover Helpers

After the after-parties are convention sessions, and convention-goers might need a little help. On Friday morning, Creative Circle Advertising Solutions sponsors the Stumptown coffee and pastries. On Saturday, Associated Press' ASAP news service supplies calculators for Fran Zankowski's financial management workshop because sometimes, without proper sleep, math is hard. [posted June 13, 2007]

The Big Evening Events: Booze! Food! Need We Say More?

Thursday night's opening reception at the Portland Art Museum: Mingle with other AAN-types while sipping Widmers, wine or 360 vodka and munching on light hors d'oeuvres in the museum's outdoor sculpture garden. The big Rembrandt show is just a few steps away.

Friday's rooftop reception at Wieden + Kennedy: One of the world's top ad agencies will entertain conventioneers with Motown music and a transcendant view of the Pearl District, and AAN and Willamette Week will provide the drinks and light hors d'oeuvres.

Saturday’s "Dinner in the Sky" at Oregon Health & Science University's Kohler Pavillion: Take a streetcar to the Portland Aerial Tram, where a private car awaits convention delegates. During the three-minute ride that climbs 500 feet, you'll have birds' eye views of downtown Portland, the Willamette River and Mt. Hood. Up on top, you'll find a salmon dinner, with drinks and dessert.

[posted June 9, 2007]

Sign Up for Twitter for Late-Breaking Convention News

Even the best-laid plans occasionally need tweaking, which is why AAN is using Twitter to send updates to convention attendees. (Wait, what's Twitter? You can read more about it at web.aan.org/twitter). We'll use it to send short text messages to mobile devices to remind folks about events or last-minute changes. Just text "Follow Altweeklies" to 40404, and follow the instructions, or check our step-by-step pictorial on our community blog at Portland2007.AAN.org/twitter_help. If you already have a Twitter account, just add your mobile information to your account to receive updates. If you’d prefer to see the updates online only, you can check out our page, Twitter.com/AltWeeklies.

[posted June 8, 2007]

Confront Your Prius Envy

Toyota's hybrid Prius is already a common sight in commuter heavy places like D.C. and L.A., but have you gotten to drive one yet? Toyota and a number of its hybrid, alternative fuel and future technology experts will be available to answer questions during the convention. Green and environmental reporters take note: The company's interactive exhibit will feature a full array of current model Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive vehicles -- the­ Prius, Camry and Highlander -- that can be taken for a test ride or drive. To sign up for the hybrid ride and drive experience, talk to the reps staffing the Toyota booth in the trade show. [posted June 8, 2007]

Convention Attendance Shattering Records

It feels like the late 90's again here at AAN! As of this afternoon, there are approximately 580 members, non-members and exhibitors registered for this year's convention in Portland, which is now only one week away. We haven't seen numbers like this since the Phoenix convention in 2000. For a list of member and non-member registrants as of May 30, download this PDF. [posted June 8, 2007]

Eleven Board Seats Up for Election in Portland

The election will be held during the association's annual meeting on Saturday, June 16. Current members of the board have indicated their intention to run for nine of the open seats. Other AAN members who are interested in running for the board should contact executive director Richard Karpel at 202/289-8484 or rkarpel at aan.org. [posted June 6, 2007]

Free Transportation From the Airport

And we won't make you blog to qualify! If you were registered for the convention as of last week, be on the lookout for a Willamette Week envelope. For inside that envelope is a TriMet ticket good for a Max train ride from PDX to downtown Portland. The train leaves the airport every 15 minutes; after a 29-minute ride, it'll drop you at Pioneer Square, which is two blocks south of the Hilton. [posted June 6, 2007]

Free Chocolate for Convention Blog Participants

Portland's Alma Chocolate will provide the sweet, sweet reward for 2007 AAN attendees who contribute to the convention blog at Portland2007.AAN.org. Post thoughts on a session, a guest speaker, nightlife or your Portland adventures, and take home a chocolate concoction by Alma. Or just email your convention pictures to Photos *at* AAN *dot* org - be sure to include your name in the body of your email as a photo credit. Blog participants who've earned their cocoa will be listed in the "Chocolate Winners!" column of the blog. Alma Chocolate can also be found on Saturday's Farmers Market tour [see convention events]. [posted June 6, 2007]

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden to Speak at Convention

Oregon's senior senator, known for his interest in health care, technology and natural-resources issues, will address convention delegates the morning of Saturday, June 16. Before his election to the Senate in 1996, Wyden served 15 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. In a vote earlier this month, Wyden cosponsored the Feingold-Reid amendment calling for the mandated redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq. In 2002, the Democrat was one of only 23 senators who voted against the authorization of military force in Iraq. [posted May 31, 2007]

Where Do I Send My Papers?

AAN Convention Newspaper Display
Pacific Exposition Decorating Company
2737 NW Nela Street
Portland, OR 97210
tel: 503-417-8000

If you would like to include your papers in the newspaper display at the convention, please send them to the address above. Schedule your shipment to arrive by Wednesday, June 13. You may send as many papers as you like, but 25 to 50 papers are generally sufficient. If your experience at the Convention has shown that more or less is needed, then adjust that number as you choose. It’s always a good idea to ship them in a manner that can be tracked. And, yes, remaining papers will be recycled! [posted May 31, 2007]

Former U.S. Attorney to Speak at First Amendment Lunch

David C. Iglesias is the former federal prosecutor for the District of New Mexico whose revelation about receiving an improper phone call from Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) was the spark that ignited the scandal presently engulfing U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez and the Bush Administration. Iglesias will join us for lunch in Portland on Saturday, June 16, for our annual celebration of a free press, where he will be interviewed by Santa Fe Reporter editor Julia Goldberg. You've probably heard about Iglesias' role in the DOJ scandal, but did you know that the former United States Navy Reserve Captain was the basis for the character played by Tom Cruise in the movie A Few Good Men? [posted May 30, 2007]

What's Next in Real Estate Marketing?

That's the question that will be answered in a classified-track session led by Move.com’s Adam Fine, who will talk about how the web has reshaped the ways people think about buying, selling and valuing properties. Fine will also demonstrate how the web has made real estate a voyeuristic pastime. [posted May 30, 2007]

Jim Hightower to Honor Molly Ivins' Legacy

Earlier this month, AAN presented the first annual Molly Ivins Award to MSNBC host Keith Olbermann. During the AltWeekly Awards lunch on Friday, June 15, author and radio commentator Hightower will help us to continue to celebrate the memory of his late friend and fellow Texan with a rousing tribute. [posted May 30, 2007]

Blogging for Journalists UNconference, Anyone?

It's a nerdy, populist idea: folks in the audience of a lecture often know just as much as the speaker, so why not have everyone contribute? It's called an unconference [wiki], and the idea is to democratize the convention experience. AAN will experiment with an UNconference by hosting a special, free-wheeling session on "Blogging for Journalists," hosted by web director Laura Fries. She'll guide the session with an outline of topics, soliciting best practices contributions from UNconference attendees, and, of course, blogging the results on the community convention blog at Portland2007.AAN.org. To get involved, pop over to the convention blog.
[posted May 23, 2007]

How Good is Your Paper, Anyway?

Learn what your peers think by signing up for an editorial critique at the AAN convention in Portland. You'll have an opportunity to sit down with an editor or two from similarly-sized papers and hear how your paper reads. In turn, you will read three issues from their papers and offer the same feedback. If you are interested in participating, contact Richard Karpel at rkarpel at aan.org by Friday, June 1. [posted May 22, 2007]

Attention Golfers

It's not too late to sign up for the 2007 Golf Outing on June 14. Registration is a snap: Simply send Willamette Week sales rep Andrew Shenker an e-mail and arrange payment in advance or for the day of the tournament. Join Andrew and Musicfest NW Director Trevor Solomon in the Hilton Portland (main building) lobby at 7 a.m. for your 8 a.m. tee time at either Eastmoreland or Heron Lakes Golf Course. The $75-per-person fee includes golf, lunch, refreshments and transportation. [posted May 21, 2007]

Looking for Some Web Training?

We'll have it for you next month in Portland, where there will be at least a dozen different Web-focused presentations and panels, from an eyetracking seminar by a representative of Poynter Institute to sessions on web metrics and analytics, and online real estate marketing. [posted May 20, 2007]

Huffington, Taibbi and Hamsher to Talk Politics in Portland

That's Arianna Huffington of Huffington Post and NPR, Matt Taibbi of Rolling Stone, and Jane Hamsher of firedoglake.com. They'll share ideas about national and local election coverage in a Friday afternoon panel at this year's convention. The panel will be moderated by Willamette Week editor Mark Zusman. [posted May 20, 2007]

Design and Production Buzz Lounge

A new feature of the 2007 Convention is the D&P Buzz Lounge. Take advantage of this dedicated area in the Trade Show to network with fellow D&P professionals in a casual atmosphere. Meet colleagues and outside experts during scheduled breaks or use the Lounge to set up informal one-on-one critiques or mentoring sessions. Look for the ad in the Convention Program with more details. [posted May 20, 2007]

Columbia J-School Makes Push to Connect With Alt-Weeklies

Career services coordinator Gina Boubion will attend this year's convention to talk to prospective students about mid-career programs at Columbia, and to connect with editors who are looking to hire both entry-level and more experienced journalists. "Every year more and more of our students come to Columbia to advance their investigative and narrative skills, and they've definitely gotten the message from us and their professors that the alt-weeklies are fertile ground for doing the kind of journalism they crave to do," Boubion says. [posted May 20, 2007]

Community Blog for '07 Convention Launches

Portland2007.AAN.org is AAN's first community blog experiment: any convention attendee is welcome to contribute. Designed to function both as a message board and as a publication for traditional convention coverage, Portland2007.AAN.org will feature in-depth coverage of sessions, nightlife, and Portland adventures. Attendees interested in blogging can register for an account directly on the blog, or contact AAN Web Director Laura Fries at laurafries@aan.org for more info. [posted May 16, 2007]

Popular Consultant to Address Alt-Weekly Management Challenges

Given their unique organizational cultures, hiring and retaining staff at AAN papers presents a distinct set of challenges. Laura Dell, who serves as a management consultant for several alt-weeklies, understands what's at stake as well as anyone. Following several highly rated presentations at the last two AAN conventions, Dell returns for an double encore this year in Portland. She'll help publishers and senior managers hire the right people ("Smart Hiring: Attracting and Capturing the Best"), and she'll work with editors to increase staff motivation and productivity ("Talent Management: Directing and Energizing Editorial Staff"). [posted May 15, 2007]

Talking 'bout Food in Portland

That's what we'll be doing in the editorial stream on the opening day of the convention, when Pulitzer winner Jonathan Gold joins a panel of AAN editors to chew over the best ways to write about food and cover the restaurant industry. Also on the panel's menu: reader reviews and restaurant blogs. Two days later, panel moderator Kelly Clarke, arts & culture editor at Willamette Week, will lead a morning stroll through Portland's bustling, delicious Farmers Market, where AAN foodies can graze on gratis samples from some of Oregon's finest farmers, cheesemakers, bread bakers and sweets makers. [posted May 12, 2007]

Don't Know the Difference Between ROI, RoAS, CPM, and CPA?

If you've been drowning in the alphabet soup of web metrics and analytics, have we got a lifeboat for you! Executives from the Overland Agency -- one of Portland's leading brand marketing and interactive advertising agencies -- will teach AAN convention attendees how to talk "letters" and "numbers" with online media planners/buyers, as well as how to align their presentations with advertisers' objectives. [posted May 11, 2007]

Online Event Listings: Can Alts Maintain the Franchise?

Event listings have long served as the sine qua non of alt-weeklydom, but with the likes of Google, Microsoft and Yahoo focusing on the online distribution of event information, our share of the market is less than secure. That's why AAN commissioned Jackson Free Press publisher Todd Stauffer to review the state of the art in online event listings to help AAN members defend their turf. In this presentation at the AAN convention, Stauffer will suggest best practices for presenting online events; recommend tools to enhance the distribution of event information online while facilitating a web-to-print workflow; and propose technology standards for integrating event content into popular social-networking tools. [posted May 10, 2007]

AAN Marketing Show-n-Tell Goes Multimedia

One of the most popular annual convention benefits, this year's marketing idea-sharing session will sport the best radio and cable spots, viral marketing campaigns, and in-paper promotions produced by AAN members. Entries should focus on audience-building, special events or promotions, special section promotion and the like. Show off your mad marketing skilz by submitting your single best piece to Roxanne Cooper no later than May 15. [posted May 5, 2007]

How Does Portland Do It Differently?

That's the question we're going to try to answer on Thursday, June 14, the opening day of the convention. In an AAN convention first, our hosts at Willamette Week have assembled a panel of entertaining and articulate local experts to discuss the region's unique approach to public-policy issues that have national resonance, including land-use planning, mass transit, assisted suicide, sustainable development and medical marijuana. Seems like the right way to get this party started, no? [posted May 4, 2007]

Alternative Convention Accommodations

If you are unable to reserve a room at the Portland Hilton at the AAN Convention rate, please call the Portland Paramount, a boutique hotel located less than two blocks from the Hilton, at 503-223-9900. The AAN rate there is the same as the rate at the Hilton: $129. [posted May 4, 2007]

Early registration deadline is Friday ... yes, Friday!

The early registration deadline is Friday, May 4, so be sure to register by then and save $50 on the regular registration rates for the Portland Convention. It’s quick and easy to register online.

Don’t forget the registration bonuses for AAN Member Papers! Pay for two registrations and get one free; pay for a third and get one more for free. Such a deal, indeed! [posted May 2, 2007]

Get High in Portland

After a quick streetcar ride, conventioneers will climb aboard an AAN-private cabin on the new $57M Portland Aerial Tram for the three-minute, 500 foot ascent to OHSU's Kohler Pavilion. Up top, they'll be able to take in the spectacular views of downtown Portland, the Willamette River and Mt. Hood. A cocktail party, featuring heavy hors d'oeuvres, follows at OHSU's Atrium. Saturday, June 16, from 6 to 9 pm. 

[posted April 24, 2007]

A River Runs Through It

And so can you.

Join Willamette Week's Kyle Owens on a 5-mile waterfront run (at a 9-minute pace) through Portland on Friday, June 15. Interested runners should plan to meet in the lobby of the Hilton Portland at 7 am.

[posted April 19, 2007]

AAN Members Eligible for Additional Registration Bonus

Member papers that register for the AAN convention in Portland are eligible to receive up to two free registrations. Purchase two registrations for the same paper and you'll receive one additional complimentary registration. Pay for a third registration for the same paper and you'll receive one more complimentary registration.

Registration fees include seminars, Trade Show and evening events. Tickets for the AltWeeklies Awards Lunch and the First Amendment Lunch may be purchased for $35 per person per lunch. 

Associate Members and non-members are not eligible for this bonus.

[posted April 16, 2007]

Portland Through the Eyes of the NYT

Willamette Week is understandably biased on the issue. So if you aren't sure yet whether you're attending this year's AAN convention (or you simply want to use the Time's new double-click dictionary to look up words like "chic," "funky," "spritely," and "unneurotic"), here's 36 Hours in Portland, Ore., with the Gray Lady. [posted April 14, 2007]

Individualized Training for Sales Managers

Classified and retail sales managers attending this year's annual convention may schedule a one-on-one, half-hour consultation with ad sales management guru Kathi Simonsen. As opportunities for these sessions are extremely limited, we suggest interested managers sign-up ASAP. [posted April 13, 2007]

Need to Build a Better Media Company?

Have we got plAANs for you!

Whether you're looking for new ways to trick out your website, build reader satisfaction and loyalty, increase revenue and market share, develop special issues and sections that make sense, or work more efficiently, the 2007 AAN Convention will offer ideas, inspiration, and tangible training to help you meet your goals.

This year's convention site will be updated frequently with new information. So, bookmark this page now and check back often!

[posted April 9, 2007]

Early Registration Deadline Extended

Save $25 per person by completing the registration process by January 30, 2007. [posted January 23, 2007]

Digg Founder to Speak at AAN West

Kevin Rose, who graced the cover of Business Week last summer, will serve as the keynote speaker at the regional staff-training conference in San Francisco this weekend, AAN announced today. Rose is the founder and chief architect of Digg.com, a user-driven social content Web site, and he is not worth $60 million. Prior to founding Digg, Rose produced and hosted hundreds of segments on cable-television network Tech TV. Here's what he Diggs right now.

[posted January 22, 2007]

Hotel Washington Reservation Deadline Extended

The deadline to make reservations at Hotel Washington has been extended to January 26, 2007. Don't miss out on the discounted AAN rate. Call (800) 424-9540 to make your reservations today! [posted January 16, 2007]

Hotel Reservation Deadline Extended

The Miyako Hotel deadline has been extended to January 12, 2007. Don't miss out on the discounted AAN rate. Call 800-533-4567 to make your reservations today! [posted January 8, 2007]

The Early Registration Deadline Has Been Extended!

Save $25 per person by completing the registration process by January 9, 2007. [posted December 4, 2006]

Having Difficulty Bringing in New Business?

The Strategic Prospecting session scheduled in the Advertising track at this year's regional conference will help BOTH your classified and retail sales reps map a winning strategy that will help them close more business. [posted December 1, 2006]

Having Difficulty Bringing in New Business?

The Strategic Prospecting session scheduled in the Advertising track at this year's regional conference will help BOTH your classified and retail sales reps map a winning strategy that will help them close more business. [posted December 1, 2006]

Time for the Training Wheels to Come Off?

We've got the tools to help you!

At this year's regional staff training conference, your staff will learn:

  • How to take ads from print to the Web
  • Photoshop tips and tricks
  • The common pitfalls to avoid when designing with color

  • How to sell print AND online ad packages
  • Prospecting skills
  • How to target non-traditional revenue prospects

  • How to write for the Web
  • 104 easy ways to improve their reporting and writing
  • How to build a beat

AND MUCH, MUCH MORE! [posted November 17, 2006]

Time for the Training Wheels to Come Off?

We've got the tools to help you!

At this year's regional staff training conference, your staff will learn:

  • How to take ads from print to the Web
  • Photoshop tips and tricks
  • The common pitfalls to avoid when designing with color

  • How to sell print AND online ad packages
  • Prospecting skills
  • How to target non-traditional revenue prospects

  • How to write for the Web
  • 104 easy ways to improve their reporting and writing
  • How to squeeze amazing information from public documents

AND MUCH, MUCH MORE! [posted November 17, 2006]

Who's Coming?

You can get an up-to-the-minute list of registrants for the 2006 Web Publishing Conference here. [posted September 25, 2006]

Conference Program Finalized

In briskly paced sessions, the two-day conference will cover everything AAN members need to know about the Web: Revenue models; online advertising operations and technology; user-generated content; multimedia; search-engine optimization; social networking; Web analytics; usability best practices; wireless Internet; legal issues; and writing and editing for the Web. The meeting will also feature big-picture overviews, vendor presentations and member roundtables. The deadline for reduced rates is Sept. 12. [posted September 11, 2006]

Conference Schedule Announced

The newly announced program for the Web Publishing Conference includes the following speakers: Thomas Burke, a lawyer with the firm Davis Wright Tremaine; Xavier Casanova, CEO of Perenety; Bruce Dobie, owner of Dobie Media LLC; Bowen Dwelle of AdMonsters; Michael Gold and Susan West of WestGold Editorial; R. Scott Horner, co-owner of Swarm Interactive; Thomas Kenney, president of Verve Wireless, Inc.; and Dave Morgan, the founder and chairman of Tacoda Systems. Additional speakers and seminars will be announced soon. [posted August 24, 2006]

Early Registration Deadline

In order to receive a discount, you must register no later than Sept. 12, 2006. Early registration rates are $295 for the first AAN member and $245 for each additional registrant from the same paper. [posted August 17, 2006]

Web Publishing Conference

The Association of Alternative Newsweeklies' first-ever Web Publishing Conference will be held Oct. 5-7, 2006, at the Holiday Inn Golden Gateway in San Francisco.

The conference, which is open only to AAN members and associate members, is designed to help publishers and editors strategize their online presence and adapt new electronic-publishing formats and technologies. Newsprint addicts are encouraged to bring their electronic-publishing personnel to help ground the discussion.

The program has been organized with the help of San Francisco-based consulting firm West Gold Editorial. Seminars and workshops will be held all day on Friday, October 6, and Saturday, October 7. Lunch will be catered at the hotel, and participants will be on their own for dinners.

[posted August 14, 2006]

Where do I send my papers?

AAN Convention Newspaper Display
c/o Jennifer Grantham
The Peabody Little Rock
Three Statehouse Plaza
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone (501) 906-4000

Schedule your shipment to arrive between June 12 and 14. The display will be set up on June 15.

[posted June 8, 2006]

On the Menu

Whether you're looking for a local luncheon hideaway to dish the dirt with old friends and colleagues, a venue for a special dinner treat for your staff or a chophouse so upscale you'll bleed your richest vendor's entertainment budget dry, be sure to check out our Little Rock Restaurant Guide. [posted June 5, 2006]

Design Critiques: New and Improved

The Design Critiques take an entirely new approach this year with the first first-ever DRIVE-BY CRITICISM display. Avail yourself of a priceless opportunity for criticism by professionals in your field who have no agenda at your paper! Mail us examples of your "problem areas" and we'll make them available for continuous ad-hoc criticism during this year's Annual Convention. You don't have to attend the convention to take advantage of this opportunity! Mail two copies of the sections of your paper you’d like critiqued to Debra Silvestrin. Be sure to indicate specific concerns.

Deadline for receipt is Friday, June 9! [posted June 1, 2006]

Editorial Critique Deadline Nears

Editors attending next month's AAN convention who are interested in participating in an editorial critique still have 48 hours to make their interest known. The critiques will be held on Saturday, June 17, the final day of the convention. To sign up, contact Richard Karpel at rkarpel at aan.org by the close-of-business on Friday, June 2. [posted May 31, 2006]

BYO Water Bottle and Head to Riverfront Park

If you feel the need to get some fresh air, check out Riverfront Park. For those staying on the Little Rock side of the river, you'll find the trail right behind the Peabody. Just head towards the river and you'll run into the trail. Take a right (or east) and you'll head towards the Clinton Library. It's great running and rollerblading on the trail, sidewalks and streets surrounding the River Market/Clinton Library/Heifer Project area. Take note of the trolley tracks! North Little Rock side also has the Riverfront Trail and it's actually a little flatter and has less traffic.

If you would like to join an independent group for morning rollerblading outings on Friday and/or Saturday mornings before programming starts, contact Susan Mitchell at The Athens NEWS. Bring your blades—and your protective gear. (Injuries are not on the agenda.) [posted May 15, 2006]

Be Sure to Check Out the Special Screening of "Street Fight"

This Academy Award-nominated documentary covers the turbulent campaign of Cory Booker, a 32-year old Rhodes Scholar/Yale Law graduate running for mayor of Newark, N.J. against Sharpe James, the four-term incumbent twice his age. The work of a dogged and courageous journalist, "Street Fight" is an astonishing story, focusing on the erstwhile alt-weekly obsessions of race, corruption and local politics. The screening will be held on Friday, July 16, from 10 to 11:30 pm, at The Peabody Hotel. [posted May 12, 2006]

Air America Radio to Present at AAN Convention

The progressive radio network is interested in forming business and editorial partnerships with AAN papers, and will make their case for an alliance on Thursday, June 15 in Little Rock. Jon Sinton, co-founder and president of programming, and Jaime Horn, communications VP, are sheduled to speak on behalf of AAR, which launched in 2004 and now has over 90 affiliate stations nationwide. They will discuss the network's history and progress and will describe the various forms that a partnership might take. [posted May 11, 2006]

Award-Winning Author Ted Conover Added to Edit Stream

Conover is the author of four books of narrative nonfiction, including "Coyotes: A Journey Through the Secret World of America's Illegal Aliens'" and "Newjack," which recounts his 10 months as a corrections officer at Sing Sing prison in New York and was the winner of the 2004 National Book Critics Circle Award. He is scheduled to speak to AAN editors on Thursday afternoon, June 15. "When Less is More," the open discussion for editors from small- and medium-sized alt-weeklies that was originally scheduled that afternoon, has been moved to Friday afternoon. [posted May 9, 2006]

Overflow Hotel for the Little Rock Convention:
Courtyard Little Rock

The Peabody Hotel --headquarters of the 2006 AAN Convention-- is close to selling out. If you are unable to obtain a reservation at The Peabody, please contact the Marriott Courtyard Little Rock Downtown. Be sure to call the hotel directly and give them the group code AANO. The rate is $109.

The Courtyard is located approximately seven blocks from The Peabody in the direction of the Clinton Presidential Center and in the heart of the River Market District.

Courtyard Little Rock Downtown
 521 President Clinton Avenue
Little Rock, AR 72201 USA
Phone: (501) 975-9800 [posted May 3, 2006]

Ark Times Publisher Organizes Post-Convention Camping Trip

Alan Leveritt -- publisher of Arkansas Times, the host paper of the 2006 AAN Annual Convention -- is organizing a post-convention getaway: a two-day guided camping and fishing expedition on the White River in the Ozarks (photo gallery here). He promises "a luxury camping experience with everything supplied, set up and organized for your enjoyment." The trip will begin on Sunday, June 18, and will return to Little Rock in time for participants to catch afternoon flights on Tuesday, June 20. The cost is $450 per person, and attendance is limited to 15 people. If you are interested in joining the White River expedition, please contact Alan at alan@arktimes.com or 501-375-2985, no later than Wednesday, May 10. [posted May 1, 2006]

Advertising Sessions Require Additional Sign-Up

If you plan on attending "Show Me the Money" in the Classified track or "Marketing, Branding and Promotion" in the Retail track, you must contact Roxanne Cooper as soon as possible as space in each session is limited to the first 50 people who sign up. [posted April 24, 2006]

Featured Speakers

Speeches by President William J. Clinton, General Wesley K. Clark (U.S.A., Retired) and Susan McDougal will highlight the 29th Annual AAN Convention. Michael Tisserand is slated to emcee the AltWeekly Awards Luncheon. Be sure to hold these important days and times in your schedule. [posted April 17, 2006]

Early Registration Deadline

Don't miss the May 5, 2006 early registration deadline for your chance to save.

Ready to register now? Try our new fast, easy-to-use online registration option. [posted April 10, 2006]

Did Someone Mention 'Cocktails'?

The San Francisco Bay Guardian will host a cocktail party on Saturday evening from 5:30 to 7:30 pm (after the conference ends). The Guardian’s Hellraisers host this party exclusively for AAN members … and the Hellraisers know how to make it hot. Free drinks and stuff. Join the Bay Guardian in celebrating its 40th anniversary and new redesign. [posted January 24, 2006]

Did you get your copy of "Best AltWeekly Writing and Design 2005"?

Conference registrants only: you can purchase this collection of last year's AltWeekly Award winners for a special discounted price of only $10 (tax included). Look for our display at the conference registration desk. We will accept cash and checks at the conference, or you may pay in advance by credit card by contacting Amy Gill at 202-289-8484. Books must be picked up at the conference; the discounted rate does not include shipping. Don't miss out -- supplies are limited. [posted January 9, 2006]

Did you get your copy of "Best AltWeekly Writing and Design 2005"?

Conference registrants only: you can purchase this collection of last year's AltWeekly Award winners for a special discounted price of only $10. Look for our display at the conference registration desk. We will accept cash and checks in San Francisco, or you may pay in advance by credit card by contacting Amy Gill at 202-289-8484. Books must be picked up at the conference; the discounted rate does not include shipping. Don't miss out -- supplies are limited. [posted January 9, 2006]

IRE Trainer Named for Better Watchdog Workshop

Brant Houston, executive director of the Investigative Reporters and Editors, Inc., will lead the IRE workshop that will be held Saturday, Jan. 28, from 9 a.m. until noon in the Editorial stream. Houston, who was managing director of the National Institute for Computer Assisted Reporting for two years before he took the reins at IRE. [posted December 29, 2005]

IRE Trainer Named for Better Watchdog Workshop

Ron Nixon, projects editor on the New York Times computer assisted reporting team, will lead the Investigative Reporters and Editors workshop that will be held Saturday, Feb. 18, from 9 a.m. until noon in the Editorial stream. Nixon drew rave reviews from attendees when he presented a workshop at AAN West in Jan. 2004. "Ron Nixon was a pro -- very engaging," said one AAN member responding in the post-conference survey. "Ron Nixon was all that and a bag of chips. He knew the unknowable," enthused another. [posted December 29, 2005]

Registration Materials on Their Way

By the time you return to work from your Thanksgiving holiday weekend, several copies of the AAN West informational brochure will have arrived at your newspaper. In it, you'll find hotel info, the conference schedule, detailed descriptions of all sessions and speaker bios. The same information may be found by exploring the menu bar on the right-hand side of this page. If you'd like to beat the rush and register early, you may download a .pdf of the form now. The early registration deadline for AAN West is December 30, 2005. Be sure to check back to this page often for updates. [posted November 17, 2005]

Registration Materials on Their Way

By the time you return to work from your Thanksgiving holiday weekend, several copies of the AAN East informational brochure will have arrived at your newspaper. In it, you'll find hotel info, the conference schedule, detailed descriptions of all sessions and speaker bios. The same information may be found by exploring the menu bar on the left-hand side of this page. If you'd like to beat the rush and register early, you may download a .pdf of the form now. The early registration deadline for AAN East is January 20, 2006. Be sure to check back to this page often for updates. [posted November 17, 2005]

Hotel Reservation Deadline

The deadline for The M Street Hotel (formerly the Center City Hotel) reservations at the special AAN rate is Tuesday, January 17, 2006; however, we encourage you to book early as AAN’s block of rooms could be reserved prior to the deadline. To make your reservation, call the hotel directly at (202) 775-0800 and ask for the AAN group rate. [posted November 14, 2005]

Saturday Evening Cocktails!

The San Francisco Bay Guardian is hosting free drinks on Saturday immediately after the conference. Each registered AAN West delegate will receive two free drink tickets. We’ll include a map to the venue location, conveniently located near the hotel, with your drink tickets. Mix and mingle with your AAN West friends before heading out to dinner and enjoying a night on your own in San Francisco! [posted November 13, 2005]

Special Bonus for Design and Production Attendees!

The first 25 registrants in Design and Production will receive a CD-Rom entitled Prepress for Adobe Photoshop. This eight-hour video, authored by Taz Talley, is from the lynda.com training library. [posted November 13, 2005]

Special Bonus for Design
and Production Attendees!

The first 25 registrants in Design and Production will receive a CD-Rom entitled Prepress for Adobe Photoshop. This eight-hour video, authored by Taz Talley, is from the lynda.com training library. [posted October 28, 2005]

It's San Diego...Get Some Fresh Air!

Looking to engage in your favorite sport while in San Diego? We've added information in the link on the left entitled Recreation Activities. Bring your rollerblades, cross trainers, whatever you might need. [posted June 2, 2005]

Sweater Advisory!

June evenings in San Diego can be a bit cool, so pack a light jacket or sweater along with your Bermuda shorts. [posted May 25, 2005]

Emergency Preparedness Seminar Added in Business Stream

Blood. Frogs. Vermin. Hail. Locusts. Slaying of your first editor. Whatever. If you publish a paper long enough, sooner or later you will be hit with a disaster. With eleven papers to worry about, the folks at New Times are always thinking about these things, and they have agreed to share their disaster-recovery plans with business-stream attendees on Saturday, June 18 at 4:45 pm. [posted May 20, 2005]

Hotel Update

The Westin Horton Plaza is nearly sold out for some of the nights of the Convention. If you are unable to obtain a room at The Westin, please call The Westgate Hotel at (800) 221-3802 and ask for the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies rate of $163. More information is available on the Staying Here page. [posted May 12, 2005]

Added to Saturday's Design & Production Line-up

InDesign® CS2 and InCopy® CS2: At 10 am, Convention Sponsor Adobe's Lisa Forrester will show you the newest features in both programs, offer tips and answer your questions. Then, at 11:45 am, graphic designer and illustrator Martin Gee will talk about the inspiration that is all around and how to find it. Complete descriptions can be found on the D&P program page. [posted May 6, 2005]

Ad Workshops Require Additional Sign-Up

Folks interested in participating in the Marketing, Branding and Promotion idea-sharing session in the Retail track, as well as Show Me the Money in the Classified track, should contact AAN sales and marketing assistant Tiffany Kildale. Space is extremely limited in both sessions and only the first 50 to sign-up will be able to participate. [posted April 20, 2005]

Event Marketing & Sponsorship Workshop

Stacey Lindsay, former New Times/Ruxton marketing and non-traditional revenue guru, will lead a fast-paced, action-packed session in the Retail track. Attendees will learn how to craft a sponsorship proposal that will sell, how to set up an effective marketing program at their newspaper, and much, much more. [posted April 7, 2005]

Free Convention Registration

Due to the on-going success of the AAN CAN program, all member newspapers receive one free, non-transferrable registration for their classified manager or director. [posted March 29, 2005]

Early Registration Deadline

Register by April 22, 2005 and save $50 per attendee off the regular registration rate. See registration materials for details. [posted March 25, 2005]

The Other Side:
An Intimate Tour of Tijuana's Underbelly

Programming at this year's convention includes a half-day trip to Mexico. Get an insider's look at fascinating areas rarely seen by San Diegans, including border smuggling routes, poverty and riches, sites where journalists and political candidates were assassinated, and a tour of Tijuana's alternative paper. Attendance is limited to the first 90 registrants. A separate fee of $40 includes bus fare and gourmet lunch at La Diferencia, one of Tijuana's best restaurants. To sign-up, please see your convention registration materials. [posted March 24, 2005]

AAN Convention Daily to Cover News and Gossip

Three former fellows of the Academy for Alternative Journalism and three staff members of the Austin Chronicle will be producing an AAN Convention Daily newsletter under the direction of AAN editor Ruth Hammond. The newsletter, being designed by Paul Stroede, will be distributed to convention goers on Friday and Saturday mornings. It will cover all the latest convention news and gossip. Friday's newsletter will include a quiz about AAN papers; respondents have a chance to compete for free registration at the 2005 convention.

The Daily's reporters are Joy Howard, Michael L. Jones and Jared Jacang Maher, all former Academy fellows with experience writing for alternative newsweeklies. Wells Dunbar, a production intern at the Austin Chronicle, and Nora Ankrum, a Chronicle proofreader, will also be reporting. Kate Messer, a senior editor at the Chronicle, will be the Daily's assistant editor. [posted June 22, 2004]

Convention Fiestas Will Have Historic Backdrops

No convention would be complete without some heavy-duty partying. Simon Mulverhill, publisher of the San Antonio Current, has planned festive events three nights in a row for the 400 to 500 guests expected to attend the AAN convention.

The partying begins Thursday with an Opening Night Fiesta, which will be held outdoors from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Maury Maverick Plaza at La Villita Historic Arts Village. The village, on the site of San Antonio's first neighborhood, features shops, galleries and restaurants in houses that date back as far as pre-1835, with architectural styles ranging from palisado to Victorian. Margaritas, Shiner Bock beer, mojitos and plenty of food will get the festivities rolling.

Friday night's social event is an Old West Hootenanny at Buckhorn Saloon and Museum from 7:30 to 9:30. In the 1880s, the establishment began collecting taxidermic wildlife, letting patrons trade antlers for a shot of whiskey. Now it boasts more than 1,200 trophy mounts representing more than 520 species. These include an African gorilla, a 78-point buck and a tuna that exceeds 600 pounds. Food includes barbecue brisket, spinach quesadillas, Alsatian sausage and more, plus dessert. Draft beer and soft drinks are free; otherwise, it's a cash bar.

On Saturday night, a Fiesta de la "Mexican Report" will be held at Blue Star Art Center from 7:30 to 9:30. On display there and at the Instituto de Mexico is the largest contemporary Mexican art exhibit in the United States. Margaritas, Shiner Bock beer, and great Mexican food, including duck quesadillas, will be served.

With tourist attractions like the Alamo and Riverwalk, which features nightlife spots along the San Antonio River, the city lends itself well to the convention trade, Mulverhill says. "It's not as if we have to create the environment to have fun." [posted June 21, 2004]

Bennett Zucker Replaces His Boss As Online Speaker

Dave Morgan, the CEO of TACODA Systems, is unable to attend the AAN convention to give the 11:45 a.m. Friday presentation entitled "Online Advertising: Are You Leaving Money on the Table?" Bennett Zucker, the New York audience management company's executive director for customer success, will address the topic in Morgan's place.

In his role at TACODA, Zucker works with publishers such as USAToday.com, Tribune Interactive and Belo Interactive to create ad sales and marketing success with online behavioral targeting. Prior to joining the firm last year, Zucker was a principal in Internet and technology startups working in content management, customer relationship management and Web analytics. He has worked as an editor and writer as well as a marketer and publisher. His column on behavioral marketing appears at iMediaConnection.com. [posted June 20, 2004]

Editorial Committee to Report on AltWeeklies.com, Story Sharing

Sharing stories was once limited to an AAN editor's voice calling out on a listserv: "Can anyone help me?" But now there's another avenue. In May, AAN launched a Web site devoted to helping members sell stories to each other and sometimes even give them away free. AAN Executive Director Richard Karpel will discuss the purpose and potential of AltWeeklies.com, and Editor Ruth Hammond will explain how the site works during the Editorial Committee Report from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Saturday, June 26. She'll show editors and writers how to post a story and how to find an article on a particular topic quickly. Editorial Committee Chairperson Patty Calhoun will also talk about plans to do more collaborative story projects, in which AAN papers simultaneously publish an article on a given topic. [posted June 18, 2004]

Criminal Defense Attorney to Be First Amendment Speaker

San Antonio attorney Gerald H. Goldstein will speak at the AAN convention's First Amendment Luncheon that takes place from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 26.

Goldstein has defended numerous high-profile clients, including "gonzo" journalist Dr. Hunter S. Thompson (for whom Goldstein won dismissal of drug charges) and the distributor of rap group 2 Live Crew's allegedly obscene record album, "As Nasty As They Wanna Be." He has served as counsel in civil rights cases, many of which vindicated the rights of prisoners to be free from excessive (and sometimes fatal) force, inadequate medical care and inhumane living conditions. He has also served as appellate counsel for death row inmates and has defended the First Amendment rights of farmers and religious organizations.

In 1999, he won the John Henry Faulk Civil Libertarian of the Year Award from the American Civil Liberties Union. He is a past president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and its Texas affiliate. He was also one of the original investors in the convention's host paper, the San Antonio Current. [posted June 10, 2004]

Kinky Friedman to Speak at AAN Convention

Novelist, singer-songwriter and gubernatorial candidate Richard "Kinky" Friedman will give a talk to enliven the Opening Night Fiesta at La Villita Historic Arts Village on Thursday night, June 24. Friedman is running for governor of Texas in 2006 under the slogan "Why the hell not?" He manages and lives at Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch in Texan hill country near San Antonio and is a regular columnist for Texas Monthly. Friedman has appeared at an AAN convention before. In Phoenix in 2000, he read from his novel, "Spanking Watson," prior to the awards lunch.

Kinkyfriedman.com: Read More about Kinky's Books and Life [posted June 1, 2004]

John Sayles' New Movie to Screen at AAN

Patricia Calhoun is in John Sayles' new film.
Those who arrive at the AAN convention early will have a chance to see Westword editor Patricia Calhoun's performance in John Sayles' new film, "Silver City," which is scheduled for release in September. Sayles used Westword's offices in Denver as the setting of a fictional daily, and Calhoun makes a cameo appearance as a reporter asking a question of the lead character, a gubernatorial candidate who shares some characteristics with George W. Bush. Austin Chronicle Editor Louis Black, who is a friend of the indie director, has arranged for a special screening of "Silver City" at the River Center in San Antonio following the Opening Night Fiesta at La Villita Historic Arts Village on Thursday, June 24. Sayles and his longtime partner and producer, Maggie Renzi, will appear to talk about the film, which explores regional issues like mining, the environment and immigration. The film stars Chris Cooper, Richard Dreyfuss, Kris Kristofferson and Daryl Hannah. Sayles' previous efforts include "Matewan," "Lianna," "Lone Star" and "Sunshine State."

AAN News: Read Story about the Making of Silver City [posted May 25, 2004]

Savage Sacked as Awards Host

New York Times reporter David Carr will replace The Stranger editor Dan Savage as the host of this year's Alternative Newsweekly Awards lunch. "Carr has been on both sides of the contest, as a contestant and a judge, and, unlike Savage, he doesn't need a bottle of whiskey and two half-naked boys to be charming and witty," said AAN executive director Richard Karpel. "Frankly, we we're glad Savage had a sudden 'schedule conflict.' The guy got so drunk he hit on Amy Alkon the last time he hosted the awards." The luncheon will be held on Friday, June 25, during the annual convention in San Antonio. [posted May 21, 2004]

Jim Hightower Added as Convention Speaker

Jim Hightower
National radio commentator, columnist and book author Jim Hightower is the latest speaker to be added to the convention schedule. His talk will take place from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Friday, June 25. The former Texas Agriculture Commissioner publishes a populist political newsletter, "The Hightower Lowdown." His books include "Thieves In High Places: They've Stolen Our Country and It's Time To Take It Back" and "If The Gods Had Meant Us To Vote, They Would Have Given Us Candidates." He has traveled the country with his "Rolling Thunder Down-Home Democracy Tour," a sort of county fair of progressive activism. Hightower is the former editor of the biweekly AAN member paper, The Texas Observer. Learn more about Hightower's work at www.jimhightower.com. [posted May 19, 2004]

Electronic Publishing Presentations Added to Schedule

A seminar on online advertising trends and a presentation focusing on the practical benefits of a multimedia Web site have both been added to the Business Stream schedule on Friday, June 25. In the online advertising session, Tacoda Systems CEO Dave Morgan will address new advertising concepts and technologies, including paid search, contextual networks and behavioral targeting. And later that day, Buffalo's alt-weekly, Artvoice, will demonstrate its new multimedia site and discuss the advantages it offers when competing with a mainstream daily paper, radio or television station. [posted May 5, 2004]

Convention Schedule, Registration Materials Available

The highlights of this year's AAN confab include a presentation about "influential consumers" by Jon Berry of market-research firm Roper ASW; a session for editors on newsroom management led by Edward Miller; and the Awards-Lunch Smackdown hosted by Dan Savage. Find everything you need, including registration materials and an almost-complete schedule, in the navigation bar on the left. The deadline for early-bird registration rates this year is Friday, May 7 .

[posted April 5, 2004]

New Town Team vs. Olde Towne Team

Next Thursday, when 128 AAN fans take their seats in PNC Park, in another section of "baseball's prettiest" stadium the Post-Gazette's David M. Shribman will watch the ballgame in torture. Should he root for the Pirates, his new team since moving to the Steel City four months ago? Or should he remain loyal to his New England roots and stick with the Bosox? And more importantly, when the two teams meet next week for the first time since the 1903 World Series, will he be able to "take (his) eyes off the Pittsburgh skyline as (he) watch(es) (the) bumbling Bucs play in the cool evening of a southwestern Pennsylvania spring?" [posted May 31, 2003]

Sure this isn't New York or San Francisco?

As noted below, we'll be doing the Warhol Museum on Thursday, June 5. The following evening, the Warhol will welcome Canadian writer and filmmaker Bruce LaBruce and Russian artist and gay porn star, Slava Mogutin, who will talk and show examples from their individual work and their collaboration on the narrative porn film, Skin Flick. Following the talk, LaBruce will create and lead an erotic staged photo shoot featuring a skimpily clothed Mogutin. Audience members will have the opportunity to participate in the photo performance by having their photograph taken with Mogutin and other models. Fortunately, you have better things to do. [posted May 28, 2003]

Proof that there's an association for everything

Good news! If you find that convention programming isn't meeting your needs, you can always pop over to the annual conference of the Society for Menstrual Cycle Research, which will be held in Pittsburgh the same weekend as AAN. Included in the conference schedule are seminars that may appeal to editors ("Tampon jokes, embarrassing moments and 'tying with blood': Menstruation and folklore") as well as panels the ad directors would surely enjoy ("From protection to self-expression: The future of menstrual advertising"). [posted May 27, 2003]

Think Neal Pollack will be there?

Says here that HOTHOUSE 03, to be held Saturday, June 7, "will be attended by a national audience of young, influential media hipsters." Hey, maybe we should check it out! What's that you say? It's a really cool party hosted by The Sprout Fund, with exhibitions, performance art, music, food and drink in a renovated school building? We're there dude! [posted May 2, 2003]

Bluegrass in Pittsburgh?

Located twenty miles outside of Pittsburgh, Tarentum, Pa., is the home of the Mountain Top Bluegrass Festival. This year it will be held June 5-8, and City Paper Music Editor Justin Hopper says "it features one HELL of a lineup, if you happen to dig real, honest, old-time bluegrass: the Osborne Bros. are two of the music's creators, James King is its best modern singer, Karl Sheiflett's the best live bluegrass band in existence right now, Mac Martin is considered a songwriting legend, and the Wildwood Valley Boys feature mandolin genius David Long." [posted April 24, 2003]

AAN-tastic coincidence! Beer Fest and AAN Convention.

By some mysterious harmonic convergence, the Pennsylvania Microbrewers Fest 2003 just happens to coincide with the AAN convention. On Saturday, June 7, you can quaff beer from 25 of the region's top microbreweries while listening to live music at Penn Brewery, the first "Tied House" (brewery-owned restaurant) in Pennsylvania since Prohibition. Unfortunately, you'll have to skip out on the convention to do it, but you can meet the brewers and sample their beers in three 3-hour sessions: noon with Dixieland Jazz; 3:30 p.m. to Caribbean. At 8 p.m. pull out the stogies for Blues & Cigars. [posted April 18, 2003]

Free music outside your windows

The folks at the Three Rivers Arts Festival (see below, March 31) have announced their lineup of headliners, and it's quite an impressive group. The two-week festival kicks off Friday June 6, right outside the Hilton's front door in Point State Park, with soul/pop icon Joan Armatrading. On Saturday, you can catch 24-year-old Canadian singer-songwriter Kathleen Edwards, whose "voice full of country longing and songs populated with unhappy barflies" has drawn comparisons to Lucinda Williams. And if you stick around Sunday night, you can sample the Ft. Worth-bred blend of blues, country and blue-eyed soul served up by Grammy-winner Delbert McClinton. [posted April 15, 2003]

Don't spill your drink on the silkscreen Marilyn!

AAN 26 opens on Thursday, June 5 with a cocktail reception at the jazz club Dowe's on 9th and continues later that evening with a tour of The Andy Warhol Museum. The Warhol will be open exclusively to AAN attendees from 8-11, so if you've decided to skip the baseball game (see below), you can pick up a drink at the cash bar, cruise the permanent collection, and explore the rich cultural terrain of the Eisenhower era on display in the special exhibition "Americanisms: Shaping Art and Culture in the '50s." [posted April 10, 2003]

An anatomically incorrect rock odyssey

"As a young man, Hedwig falls in love with an American serviceman stationed in Germany. In order to marry him and move to the States, Hedwig has a sex change operation that gets botched." That's the premise for John Cameron Mitchell's Hedwig and the Angry Inch, originally an Obie Award-winning Off-Broadway musical that was later made into a movie. If it sounds like your cup of tea -- or if you've seen only the movie -- you'll have an opportunity during the AAN Convention to see it in its original incarnation on the stage of Pittsburgh's City Theater, where it plays through June 8 with Broadway star Anthony Rapp in the lead role. For ticket information call the box office at (412) 431-CITY or visit www.citytheatrecompany.org. [posted April 8, 2003]

FLUX, an Art House Party

On Friday, June 6, following our Dinner Cruise on the Majestic, we'll have busses standing by to transport us to FLUX10, a traveling art event that showcases local visual artists, performers, and musicians in abandoned neighborhood buildings. Sharmila Venkatasubban, reviewing FLUX9 in this week's City Paper, says "its organizers seem to have created an ongoing performance in which they themselves are the creators, and its participants (artists, attendees, community members) are critical limbs that help represent more than just an art party, but maybe the way grass-roots change tends to happen in this city." [posted April 3, 2003]

Meanwhile, across the street ...

While us AAN-ers are doing our thing at the Hilton, the biggest party in Pittsburgh will unfold right across the street at Point State Park. Starting the same day as the AAN Convention, the 2003 Three Rivers Arts Festival is a 17-day event that includes free music, dance, theater, and performance art, as well as a juried visual arts exhibition and a thriving artists market. Last year's headliners included Norah Jones, Alejandro Escovedo and the Indigo Girls. Who will be there this year, we wonder? [posted March 31, 2003]

And for you history buffs ...

The last time the Boston Red Sox played the Pittsburgh Pirates was in the year 680 B.C., which, of course, was the last time the Red Sox won the World Series. So when the two teams square off in an interleague contest at PNC Park on the opening night of the AAN Convention (Thursday, June 5), you'll have an opportunity to witness history in the making (and perhaps drink a few beers). Just a short walk from the Hilton across Roberto Clemente Bridge, PNC Park also offers a spectacular view of the city. The folks at the City Paper have reserved an entire field-level section for AAN delegates, so if you sign up quickly, you may get one of the 128 available tickets. [posted March 28, 2003]