The 11th Hour (newspaper)

Infobox Newspaper
name = The 11th Hour


caption =
type = Alternative biweekly
format = Tabloid
foundation = 2001
ceased publication =
price =
owners = Brad and Megan Evans
publisher = Brad Evans
editor = Chris Horne
circulation = 10,000
headquarters = 484 Cherry St
Macon, GA 31201-3444
USA
ISSN =
website = [http://www.11thhouronline.com/ 11thhouronline.com]

"The 11th Hour" is an arts and entertainment alternative newsweekly found in Macon, Statesboro and Valdosta, Georgia. What began as an idea for a bar and nightclub newsletter in Statesboro, in 2001, soon evolved into a full-scale A&E publication fulfilling a leisure media void in the conventional college town. In 2003, "The 11th Hour" arrived in Macon and opened a main office. Macon’s version of "The 11th Hour" was also widely received, and distribution quickly grew to the surrounding Middle Georgia cities of Milledgeville and Warner Robins. Valdosta’s version of "The 11th Hour" arrived in 2004 and not only garnered a college fanbase from Valdosta State University, but is also read by supporters of the South Georgia art community.

Columnists

"11th Hour" columnists include Macon-bred columnist and editor [http://myspace.com/mr_chris - Chris Horne] . Alex Bender, writer of the nightlife column, Permanent Bender. Resident love columnist “Mr. Macon Out” remains a mystery to many, but continues to receive letters every week asking for relationship advice that isn’t what they always want to hear, but can’t seem to get enough of. Debra McCorkle, a.k.a. “Mama Karma,” whose column has been picked up by NPR and the "San Francisco Chronicle" as well as Sarcastic, skeptical and a little crude, Whit Mumbley comments on community news and politics for "The 11th Hour". Past columnists have included the Dr. Thomas Upchurch and Food Dude.

News

In addition to being an advocate for the arts and insider to entertainment, "The 11th Hour" has also tackled in-depth feature stories on prostitution, methamphetamine abuse, unsolved murders and sex offenders. A story on the killing of Albert Gene McCarthy, son of the legendary “Goat Man,” led to an exhibit of Goat Man relics and spurred interest into his son’s overlooked murder.

"The 11th Hour" reports on local politics and has featured interviews with local community and political leaders, including Macon’s former mayor, C. Jack Ellis. Other one-on-one interviews featured in "The 11th Hour" have included Billy Bob Thornton, George Jones, Mr. Food, R.E.M.’s Mike Mills, Gregg Allman, Gary Busey, Eddie Kirkland, the Drive-by Truckers, Widespread Panic, Jack McBrayer,Flavor Flav, Brook Taylor, Walton Goggins, and one of the last interviews given by legendary rocker Johnny Jenkins.

In the spirit of a radio station, The 11th Hour routinely puts on events to engage the Middle Georgia area. They turned their Reader's Choice selections into a full-blown awards show in 2007, with comedy and music throughout, handing out spray-painted baby dolls nailed by the feet to wood blocks -- the so-called "Golden Naked Babies". In 2006, the staff initiated Macon's first ever Thriller Zombie Parade for which participants were costumed as the living dead and taught to reenact the dance from Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video. Later that year, they put on Macon's first tribute to the Coen Brothers' cult gem "The Big Lebowski" with LebowskiFest. Acting on the knowledge that Macon's music history reaches back to 1852 when Alabama Vest and Thaddeus Von Clegg unveiled the first kazoo at the Georgia State Fair, The 11th Hour staff (with help from Bibb Music and the GA State Fair) staged an attempt to break the Guinness World Book Record for Largest Kazoo Ensemble. (Unfortunately, [http://youtube.com/watch?v=6m_JYbYpDUo - the attempt] fell just a couple hundred short of the record.)

Television

In 2006, in partnership with Cox Communications, "The 11th Hour" launched a television show on WCOX 15 that is based on stories featured in the publication. The show airs three times a day, seven days a week, at 10 a.m., 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Starting in December 2006, new episodes of the show aired monthly.

Ownership

"The 11th Hour" is owned by publisher Brad Evans and his wife, art director Meagan Brown Evans. Brad met Meagan while she was a student at the Savannah College of Art, and it was not long after her graduation that they began their 11th Hour venture together. In 2005, the couple was the recipient of the Macon Arts Cultural Award.

External links

* [http://www.11thhouronline.com/ The 11th Hour's official site]
* [http://wcox15.com/shows/the11thHour.htm WCOX15 - The 11th Hour]
* [http://www.myspace.com/the11thhourmacon - The 11th Hour on Myspace]