Paper recognized, adds reporter

Thursday, July 22, 2010

By Matthew Irwin

What is AAN?
No, it's not Aaron's Inc., nor is it the American Academy of Neurology – I wouldn't be so frivolous with the one question a year I allot myself for ledes. Look a little further down your Google page, and you'll find the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies, the national alt-weekly organization that just accepted JH Weekly for membership. The announcement came by way of an AAN tweet from its annual conference, and we're expecting the official notice soon.

“There are a wide range of publications in AAN,” reads the organization's Web site. “What ties them together are a strong focus on local news, culture and the arts; an informal and sometimes profane style; an emphasis on point-of-view reporting and narrative journalism; a tolerance for individual freedoms and social differences; and an eagerness to report on issues and communities that many mainstream media outlets ignore.”

That's right, paper-haters – a committee of our peers from alt-weeklies across the country agreed that our reporting, writing, vision and style demonstrate that we are worthy of sharing company with The Village Voice, Willamette Week, Creative Loafing, LA Weekly, San Diego CityBeat and the nearly 130 other members.
Do I feel vindicated, reinforced, tempted to extend my middle finger to anonymous online detractors and rabid name-callers? Yes. Yes. No, but I will gladly throw a “suck it” their way.

Perhaps even more valuable than AAN's recognition of our efforts and inclusion of us in its nationwide network of resources is the feedback the committee will send  about what they like and what we can do better. “What we can do better” has always been my goal, as much for the valley as for the paper, and I can't tell you how excited I am to participate in dialog that has progress in mind over shields and shitballs. (Look at me all cussing – I feel so empowered.)

The application we sent earlier this year wasn't our first, and we could be kicked out for any number of reasons, so I am taking this win as a chance to log our successes and failures, then look ahead. 

I only wish Ben Cannon were here to share this victory with us. Sure, he's on his way to an adventure somewhere in a liter of heffeweisen, but we couldn't have done it without him, and now he has a professional accolade to place on the shelf next to his reputation as a local character.

You may have noticed, however, a number of new bylines, including Benjamin Bombard, our new staffer. Though I thought he was a bit of a pseudo-hipster goober with the whole I-flew-to-New-York-to-arm-wrestle-David-Foster-Wallace story he told at his interview, I was immediately impressed by his earnestness and outgoingness.

We brought him up from Salt Lake City where he wrote for The Catalyst and City Weekly. He's a good writer, a diligent reporter and he loves Jackson Hole. I'm expecting great things from him as he grows into the community, though I'm gonna have to talk to him about his drinking habit – JH Weekly staff drinks until the booze is gone or the bartenders kick us out.

That's it for now, friends. Please send your comments, concerns, 'hate-mail' my way any time. And  remember, I spend Wednesday mornings at JH Roasters if you want to insult me or knock the paper to my face. Cheers! JHW
PERMALINK:
Paper recognized, adds reporter | Planet JH News Article: Editorial

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