An alternative weekly, alternately referred to as an alternative newsweekly or alternative newspaper, is a form of alternative media newspaper found in many centres in the United States and Canada. They are commonly independent of larger media conglomerates, though exceptions exist. They are found in most large urban centres in North America, many smaller cities and even some more rural or exurban areas.
Alternative weeklies represent the contemporary, earnest, more commercial and more mainstream evolution of the underground press associated with the 1960scounterculture. Their focus remains on arts and entertainment and social and political reportage. Rather than comprehensive coverage of general news,an alternative weekly's content is dominated by often opinionated reviews, features and columns. Editorial positions at alternative weeklies are predominantly left_leaning.
Alternative weeklies are favored advertising media for local bars, clubs, arts and entertainment. They usually include comprehensive classified and personals sections. Audiences tend to be young-to-middle-aged adults. Most alternative weeklies are free of charge.
The Association of Alternative Newsweeklies is the central body of alternative weeklies. The Alternative Weekly Network and the Ruxton Group are national advertising sales representatives for alternative weeklies.
Ruxton Media Group: Alternative Press (http://www.ruxton.com/index.php?page=alternative&nav=navigation_alt&active=1&PHPSESSID=00dc7fab4f8416f4b055ce5f0f1a66b9)
Proponents of alternative media often argue that the mainstream media is heavily biased, criticizing their pretended objectivity as a dissimulation of class biases.
While sources of alternative media are also frequently highly (and sometimes proudly) biased, the bias tend to be different, hence 'alternative'.
Alternative media outlets often engage in advocacy journalism and frequently promote specific political views, often dissident views (or, again paradoxically, views considered "dissident" from whatever the perceived mainstream; contributors to Democratic Underground and Free Republic are diametrically opposed to each other politically, and both are likely to consider themselves dissidents from an oppressive mainstream).
The publications are free-distribution alternativenewspapers emphasizing news and analysis, local coverage and in-depth coverage of arts, culture and entertainment.
It was one of the first newspapers to publish Matt Groening's Life in Hell and Rob Brezsny's Real Astrology.
The same year, Metro Newspapers purchased the Sonoma County Independent, which, in October 2000, expanded its distribution to cover Napa and Marin counties and is now published under the North Bay Bohemian flag.
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