That's too bad. While the Metro Pulse is great for entertainment, I think the Voice was the last true source for alt news. Last time they said they'd just hired a new editor, it would be nice if this wasn't true. I am assusming the Hellbender is no more, haven't seen it since the spring.

Hellbender isn't no more. They just aren't in a hurry. Maybe some hellbenders will come slithering out of the fly ash spill and clamp down on TVA's pinky toes.

CTV recruits cable access TV producers in Knoxville Voice
(link...)

as a minor contributor to, and a consumer of Knoxville Voice, I am also saddened by this news. Competition between more and different perspectives on news and events is healthy for the community.

I really like the Knoxville Voice. Dane Baker (whom I've never met) hung in there as long as he could.
Thanks, KV guys. You done good

Sad times if you ask me.

I picked up a copy of The Voice yesterday. It appears the staff was shocked and Dane told them at the very last minute, and he's got a new business. I wrote for them once and I know many others who wrote through the years and there was always trouble with pay. I figured it was the staff biting off more than they could chew but maybe it was Baker, I don't know. I wished Baker would have commented himself about why he was shutting down. I very much agree with what the staff said in that they were just getting started and had so much more to do. Its very sad that they are gone.

i thought it was odd, too, that dane baker didn't explain the demise in a written statement, or give his staff more than a week's notice.

the purchase of metro pulse by scripps was probably the nail in the coffin. metro pulse had access to the printing press and kns advertising connections, while kv had to buy its printing at retail price from scripps. i wonder whether metro pulse is self-sustaining ...

I believe Dane Baker is involved in the S&W and A-House refurb, isn't he?

According to the KV staff statements Baker's new business is flat screens used at bars for advertising. There is one at World Grotto that I assume is one of his, it seems self-defeating that it actually shows ads for other bars. And Baker is involved in some bldg. projects too. I figured all along it would be tough to compete with the MP for ads, no matter who the MP is owned by.

"the economy and other financial considerations" means an advertisement boycott over The Mouse's Ear.

You can keep ignoring it or continue to be mystified as to how they have stayed in business for 3 years, or you can pick up one of 10,0000 copies of Knoxville's longest running alternative monthly this week to see what the kids are up to these days.

Not sure I follow, Eric. Are you saying they are publishing again?

Knoxville's longest running independent publication is BLANK Newspaper (as far as they or I know). I'm mostly impressed that a 22 year old kid made one of those things last three years since we've seen so many of them come and go. Their ad on WUTK says it makes a great birdcage liner. Birds like bread, so we bought three months of advertising: