What a change in the Scene's ownership means for the paper's future - and the city's

Should Scene readers, accustomed to the paper's progressive social and political voice, be concerned about ownership that is politically conservative? Ferrell, who had generally liberal instincts as a member of the Metro Council and certainly did no harm as Scene publisher, is a political counterweight on SouthComm's board, and there are two other board members who (like Ferrell) make no appearances in federal campaign finance databases.

Still, it's Townes Duncan and his firm who maintain financial control of the enterprise. For his part, Duncan frames the Scene acquisition as a business move that makes SouthComm solidly profitable. (The black ink may spill more from society rag Nfocus, which was part of the deal; Ferrell says the Scene itself right now is "barely" turning a profit.) Describing the Scene's voice as one of "arch, knowing commentary," Duncan insists he'll take no role in driving its editorial vision and adds that "we are not looking to change its voice."

Ferrell is unabashedly upbeat about the paper's future. "After 10 years the Scene is locally owned again," he says, "and people will feel like this is our local paper again." But will right-leaning owners make it a different local paper? Duncan, who displays in his office a picture of the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Ronald Reagan along with family photos, insists that "the Scene's readers have nothing to fear from me."

To borrow a favorite phrase from the guy with his name on that aircraft carrier, readers are invited to trust but verify.

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