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The once-popular Philadelphia Weekly has largely become a "zombie" site.

Why it matters: For decades, the last remaining local alt-weekly championed progressive causes and highlighted stories ignored by larger outlets.

The continued disinvestment of traditional journalism gives Philadelphians fewer options for credible information amid a declining overall news industry.

What's happening: Philadelphia Weekly, sold to digital marketing company Paradise Media about two years ago, now peddles posts with advice about escort services and sex alongside "best of" lists for local dentists, thrift stores and cheesesteaks.

Decades of the publication's archives remain on the site.

Context: Zombie newspaper sites generally contain content and appear functional but their domain names have been abandoned, sold or repurposed.

Some of them rarely post new content, if ever, and rely on a combination of nostalgia and search engine traffic to generate online ad revenue.

Between the lines: Paradise Media, based in Puerto Rico, owns other websites like the Sex Toy Collective, and managementhelp.org per the New York Times.

The company and Philly Weekly did not respond to our requests for comment.

Flashback: The former liberal alt-weekly newspaper, founded in 1971 as the Welcomat, struggled over the last decade and changed ownership several times.

It flopped when it switched to a conservative outlet in 2020. 

The publication soon reverted to the left-leaning coverage it was known for but ended its print production in April 2022.

Zoom out: Paradise Media caused an uproar last year by running a list of the best hookup sites for flings in a respected literary magazine based in Nevada that it had purchased.

Details: New content on Philly Weekly's website is rarely posted. Articles include headlines like, "So, My Brother Joined a Sex Dungeon."

A recent post was written in what appears to be German with the headline, "Escort Sites Switzerland — The Best Escort Ads in Switzerland," per Google Translation.

Plus: Several writers still listed on the site no longer work there. Some declined to discuss their time at Philly Weekly with Axios.

Anthony Hennen, a former executive editor at the alt-weekly, tells Axios he recalled a loss of editorial independence after Paradise Media took over.

"Paradise Media is not a journalism company and they seem to have no intention of becoming one," he said.

What they're saying: Burton Speakman, a communications expert at Kennesaw State University in Georgia, tells Axios zombie sites are a form of disinformation as they trade off a recognizable name while not providing what people expect.

"It's getting harder for people to find reliable sources because people go back and they look for the media they trusted four or five years ago and it's really surprising how much of it is gone," he says.

Philadelphia Weekly lives on as a "zombie" site

The site now posts advice about escort services and sex alongside "best of" lists.

Illustration of a newspaper breaking crumbling

The once-popular <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Philadelphia Weekly" data-vars-click-url="https://philadelphiaweekly.com/" data-vars-content-id="080b5265-105b-4637-9014-eeb9d364e175" data-vars-headline="Philadelphia Weekly lives on as a &quot;zombie&quot; site" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://philadelphiaweekly.com/" target="_blank">Philadelphia Weekly</a> has largely become a &quot;zombie&quot; site.Why it matters: For decades, the last remaining local alt-weekly championed progressive causes and highlighted stories ignored by larger outlets.

News

Latest news on Wall Street, Corporate America and financial regulation.

Business

Taylor Swift was the most-streamed artist on Spotify this year in Philadelphia. Drake, Morgan Wallen, Bad Bunny and SZA are among the top 10.

Yes, but: The Kelce brothers aren't doing too shabby with their own holiday hit. It pays when little brother is dating the world's most-famous pop sensation.

The top three most-streamed songs were "Last Night" by Morgan Wallen, "Kill Bill" by SZA and "Boy's a liar Pt. 2" by PinkPantheress and Ice Spice.

Philly's all about rap, trap and hip-hop. They were three of our five most-streamed genres.

What's happening: Spotify Wrapped dropped Wednesday naming Taylor Swift as the most-streamed artist globally and unlocking over 574 million listeners' top streamed songs, artists, albums and podcasts of 2023.

Sorry, Spotify, but Axios Philly is on Team Tidal, Amazon and Apple Music.

🎵 Isaac's top songs of 2023: "Believe" (feat. Justin Timberlake) by Meek Mill and Justin Timberlake, "We Breakin' Up" by Chamillionaire, "Middle Child" by J. Cole and "Taste" (feat. Offset) by Tyga.

Swifting us off our feet

Taylor is really Swifting us off our feet.

Fans hold up big-head cutouts of pop star Taylor Swift and Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce during the Eagles' game.

The Swiftest romance you've ever seen. Photo: Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Taylor Swift was the most-streamed artist on Spotify this year in Philadelphia. Drake, Morgan Wallen, Bad Bunny and SZA are among the top 10.Yes, but: The Kelce brothers aren&#x27;t <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="doing too shabby" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/sports/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/travis-and-jason-kelce-score-no-1-on-billboard-charts-with-fairytale-of-philadelphia/3708115/" data-vars-content-id="243ffd5e-ee17-4911-a12d-10ed207b2aa8" data-vars-headline="Swifting us off our feet" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/sports/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/travis-and-jason-kelce-score-no-1-on-billboard-charts-with-fairytale-of-philadelphia/3708115/" target="_blank">doing too shabby</a> with their own holiday hit. It pays when <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="little brother is dating" data-vars-click-url="https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2023/11/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-flirting-on-social-media" data-vars-content-id="243ffd5e-ee17-4911-a12d-10ed207b2aa8" data-vars-headline="Swifting us off our feet" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2023/11/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-flirting-on-social-media" target="_blank">little brother is dating</a> the world&#x27;s most-famous pop sensation.

Things to Do

Pennsylvania's decline in some greenhouse gas emissions is bucking the national trend.

By the numbers: The Keystone State's energy-related carbon dioxide emissions dropped 30.4% between 1970 and 2021, per the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Nationally, overall emissions rose 15.4%.

Yes, but: After Pennsylvania's emissions dipped in the pandemic year of 2020, they ticked up 10% in 2021.

Charted: Pennsylvania's shrinking greenhouse gas emissions

Energy-related CO2 emissions in Pennsylvania 

Pennsylvania&#x27;s decline in some greenhouse gas emissions is bucking the national trend.By the numbers: The Keystone State&#x27;s energy-related carbon dioxide emissions dropped 30.4% between 1970 and 2021, per the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="U.S. Energy Information Administration" data-vars-click-url="https://www.eia.gov/environment/emissions/state/" data-vars-content-id="62d7c257-3f33-4f4c-839b-ac557849c340" data-vars-headline="Charted: Pennsylvania&#x27;s shrinking greenhouse gas emissions" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.eia.gov/environment/emissions/state/" target="_blank">U.S. Energy Information Administration</a>.

Climate

The holidays are in full swing and there's plenty to do around Philadelphia.

🖼️ Free museum days are here for the holidays.

Wyck Historic House, Garden and Farm: Thursday

Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History: Friday through Sunday

📚 Calling all bibliophiles. The Philadelphia Rare Book Fair kicks off with a preview Thursday at 5pm ($50) at Trinity Memorial Church. Admission on Friday and Saturday is free.

💃🏿 Ditch the kids and spend a night at the museum. The Franklin Institute's Science After Hours: Celestial Sips is 21+ and includes live music, food and drink, drag bingo and dancing. Friday, 7:30-11:30pm. Tickets: $40.

✨ Philadelphia's Magic Gardens are festooned with lights for the holiday season. Meander the outdoor sculpture garden after dark on Friday from 5:30-8:30pm. Tickets: $10-$20.

🛍️ The West Philly Holiday Hoopla on Saturday will feature markets, a pop-up plant sale, photos with the Grinch and Santa and deals at local businesses.

This includes the West Craft Fest at the Rotunda on Saturday and Sunday from 10am-4pm.

🐟 The Fishtown Freeze has family-friendly events all weekend. Check out ice sculpture carving and get free photos with Santa. Then shop holiday gifts at the pop-up makers market and local retailers.

🎁 Shop women-owned local vendors at the Sisterly Love Holiday Market on Sunday from noon to 4pm at the Headhouse Shambles.

💀 Now's your chance to browse rarely seen objects from the Mütter Museum's collection on Sunday from 2-7pm. Merriment at the Mütter also includes new education talks and hot chocolate.

Cost is $5, but it's free if you buy a general admission ticket ($20 adults, $15 ages 6-18).

🕎 Light a community menorah for Hanukkah on Sunday at the Betsy Ross House from 4:30-530pm. Count on holiday staples of latkes and jelly doughnuts.

Things to do in Philly this weekend

On our list:  Free museum days, West Philly Holiday Hoopla and more!

The holidays are in full swing and there&#x27;s plenty to do around Philadelphia.

A federal jury convicted former labor boss John Dougherty of embezzling union funds Thursday. 

Why it matters: This marks Dougherty's second federal conviction and adds to the stunning fall from grace of a man once considered one of the state's most powerful labor leaders.

Driving the news: Dougherty, former business manager of Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), was convicted of more than 70 counts, including conspiracy and fraud, per FOX29.

Meanwhile, former union president Brian Burrows was also convicted of conspiracy and other charges in the same trial.

They were each acquitted of three counts.

Catch up fast: Dougherty, Burrows and five others were indicted in 2019 and charged with dozens of counts over claims they embezzled more than $600,000 from union coffers between 2010 and 2016.

Dougherty and Burrows went to trial while the five other defendants struck plea deals.

Dougherty and former Councilmember Bobby Henon were then found guilty of conspiracy charges during a separate bribery trial in 2021.

Of note: Dougherty rejected his own plea deal for this case and another set of charges where he would have faced jail time, per the Inquirer.

Details: Federal prosecutors called 33 witnesses who testified over 15 days.

The government's case drew upon hours of wiretapped calls, plus a trove of financial documents that they say showed Dougherty spent union money on personal expenses, including home renovations and groceries.

They also said Dougherty put friends and family on the union's payroll and tasked them with running his personal errands.

The other side: Dougherty and Burrows didn't testify or mount a defense after the prosecution rested its case.

What they're saying: Dougherty told reporters afterward that he felt like his chances for acquittal were over once the jury believed one of the prosecutor's star witnesses, per CBS.

"We respect what happened, and we'll move forward. We always do," he said.

What's next: Both Dougherty and Burrows face decades in prison.

Dougherty, who still has a third trial to come over extortion charges, is scheduled for sentencing on the latest and his earlier conviction on March 20.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl set sentencing for Burrows for March 21.

Ex-labor boss John Dougherty convicted of embezzling union funds

A jury convicted him of more than 70 counts.

A federal jury convicted former labor boss John Dougherty of embezzling union funds Thursday. Why it matters: This marks Dougherty&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="second federal conviction" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2021/11/16/philadelphia-john-dougherty-bobby-henon-trial-verdict" data-vars-content-id="b012a6ca-4e6b-4832-abcf-cd9f3da8af2f" data-vars-headline="Ex-labor boss John Dougherty convicted of embezzling union funds" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2021/11/16/philadelphia-john-dougherty-bobby-henon-trial-verdict" target="_self">second federal conviction</a> and adds to the stunning fall from grace of a man once considered one of the state&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="most powerful labor leaders" data-vars-click-url="https://billypenn.com/2023/10/30/johnny-doc-philadelphia-union-ibew-embezzlement/" data-vars-content-id="b012a6ca-4e6b-4832-abcf-cd9f3da8af2f" data-vars-headline="Ex-labor boss John Dougherty convicted of embezzling union funds" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://billypenn.com/2023/10/30/johnny-doc-philadelphia-union-ibew-embezzlement/" target="_blank">most powerful labor leaders</a>.

Mike D'Onofrio

Featured stories

Ex-labor boss John Dougherty convicted of embezzling union funds

Things to do in Philly this weekend

Charted: Pennsylvania's shrinking greenhouse gas emissions

Philadelphia Weekly lives on as a "zombie" site

Swifting us off our feet