Monthly Archives: January 2015

Alt Media Updates from Super Bowl-bound New England Region

By Mark Hanzlik, Executive Director

Our last entry in this blog space was certainly not filled with good vibrations and some of that news had been from the New England area.   Now, we have some good news to report from a region also sending their own team, the Patriots to yet another Super Bowl.

PhoenixLate last year and early into this new year, there were several stories about the outcome of ownership changes and two possible alt weeklies competing for space in Portland, Maine.   Longtime AWN member, Portland Phoenix found a new owner as it was sold November 12 to ownership group behind The Portland Sun.  On the surface very little has changed in the operation of The Phoenix since that transfer of ownership though the new ownership was closely watching the expansion of Boston-based Dig in the market.    This week, another transaction between owners of new Portland Dig and Portland News Club LLC, parent company of Portland Phoenix halted the publishing of Dig immediately.

pamela_paula_bbaElsewhere in the region, Seven Days founders Pamela Polston and Paula Routly will be honored in February as they are inducted into the New England Newspaper Hall of Fame.    Seven Days which has been published continuously since 1995 has already received their share of awards and validation of their success in the Burlington, VT market.    Their company, Da Capo Publishing, produces five print products and numerous events and digital platforms supporting a staff of more than 60 locally.