Association of Alternative Newsweeklies

The Association of Alternative Newsweeklies not only is a professional trade organization for publications to join but it also offers programs to help journalists start out their careers at alternative weekly papers. One such program is their diversity grant program.
According to the association's website, "The AAN Diversity Grant Program was instituted in 2001 to help papers add diversity to their newsrooms and to encourage minority journalists to start their careers at alternative newsweeklies. This program awards up to four grants of $1,250 annually." And the other is the Academy for Alternative Journalism, "held in conjunction with the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, is a residential summer program designed to train and recruit minority journalists to work at AAN papers. Through classroom instruction by Medill faculty and guest lectures by professionals from the alternative press, Academy students focus on long-form journalism and literary techniques that are the signature of most alternative weeklies. The 2009 Academy for Alternative Journalism will run from June 21 to Aug. 16. All participants will receive a $3,000 stipend as well as allowances for travel and housing. The application deadline for 2009 has passed." In addition, they also have their Alternative Journalism Writers Workshop that is, "designed for alternative newsweekly writers and reporters. Instructors address alternative approaches to news and arts coverage and provide training in investigative and narrative techniques. The workshop is held at the Medill School of Journalism on the Northwestern University campus in Evanston, Ill."

Association of Alternative Newsweeklies Homepage
http://www.aan.org/alternative/Aan/index

Association of Alternative Newsweeklies Academy for Alternative Journalism Page
http://aan.org/alternative/Aan/ViewPage?oid=oid%3A130688

Association of Alternative Newsweeklies Alternative Journalism Writers Workshop Page
http://aan.org/alternative/Aan/ViewPage?oid=oid%3A503590