Boston's Weekly Dig

Infobox Newspaper
name = Boston's Weekly Dig


caption =
type = Alternative weekly
format = Tabloid
foundation = 1999
ceased publication =
price =
owners = Dig Publishing, LLC
publisher = Jeff Lawrence
editor =
language =
circulation = 60,079 [cite web |url=http://aan.org/alternative/Aan/ViewCompany?oid=oid%3A8428 |title=Boston's Weekly Dig |accessdate=2007-02-23 |publisher=Association of Alternative Newsweeklies ]
headquarters = 242 East Berkeley Street
2nd Floor
Boston, MA 02118
USA
ISSN =
website = [http://weeklydig.com/ weeklydig.com]

"Boston's Weekly Dig" sometimes just called the "Weekly Dig" or even just the "Dig" is a free alternative newsweekly found in Boston, Massachusetts. It offers commentary on music, arts, politics, technology, film, sex, food, drink and more, as well as local bar, entertainment and club listings, and classified ads. It is distributed Wednesday, free of charge, in self-serve newspaper dispensers located throughout the city.

History

The "Weekly Dig" was founded in September 1999, by Jeff Lawrence. Previously, Lawrence had published a monthly magazine called "Shovel" founded in 1997. "Shovel" discontinued publishing in the Spring of 2000, where it had become an insert to the "Weekly Dig".

In September 2003, Lawrence moved to change the editorial direction by dismissing - and amidst some acrimony - Joe Bonni, founding editor. Assistant editor (and junior partner) Seth McM. Donlin was named interim editor; 'Judas Goat' columnist Joe Keohane was appointed the replacement editor later in 2003.

In October, 2004, "Boston" magazine publisher Metrocorp announced that it bought a majority stake in the "Weekly Dig". Metrocorp, which has operated Boston magazine since 1971, also publishes "Elegant Wedding", "Concierge", "Home & Garden" and "New England Travel and Life". It also has operated "Philadelphia" since 1946.

Three months later, in January 2005, the paper went through a relaunch that offered a new, updated design and broader content. Since then, its circulation has more than doubled to about 70,000 copies distributed weekly.

In May, 2007, Lawrence announced that he had purchased the paper back from Metrocorp in what both sides called "an amicable divorce". [http://business.bostonherald.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=197971]

Content and sections

The "Dig's" feature articles most often deal with current local news issues, though not to the extent of the competing "Boston Phoenix". The bulk of the paper is made up of reviews of music, theatre, movies, and local restaurants. Current regular columns include the staff-written Media Farm, covering mostly the Boston market print media; The Burn Unit, written by somethingawful.com music critic David Thorpe; and a beer column written by Jason and Todd Alström, maintainers of the BeerAdvocate.com website.

Comics are near the end of the issue, and currently contain the strips "The K Chronicles" by Keith Knight, "Ted Rall" by Ted Rall, "Perry Bible Fellowship" by Nicholas Gurewitch, Lulu Eightball by Emily Flake, "Thinking Ape Blues" by Mark Poutenis, and "Secret Asian Man" by Tak Toyoshima. On the opposing page is a themed crossword puzzle.

The "Weekly Dig" carries the syndicated advice column Savage Love.

References

External links

* [http://www.weeklydig.com "Weekly Dig" Website]