Chicago, IL -
Questions concerning the stability and future of the Chicago Free Press (CFP), one of two LGBT newspapers in Chicago, are abundant following the resignations of editor-in-chief, Matt Simonette, and staff writer Amy Wooten.
Apparently, pay checks due on December 15, 2009, had not been issued to employees. The news follows financial struggles and decreased ad sales for the paper.
ChicagoPride.com has not independently verified whether art director Vince Lane and graphic designer Mike Corona remain with the publication, though ChicagoBreakingNews.com reports their departure.
CFP was created in 1999 when staff from the original Windy City Times, which was published by Jeffery McCourt, staged a walk-out to start a new publication. McCourt subsequently sold Windy City Times' name and archives to rival Outlines publisher Tracy Baim.
David Costanzo, publisher of CFP and a former investment banker/lawyer, bought the operation now known as Rainbow Media, LLC, d/b/a Chicago Free Press, in 2002.
Simonette said Constanzo has not been in the office for two weeks.
Late this afternoon, Constanzo told the Chicago Tribune that the paper will come out on time Thursday and that he plans to hire replacements for those who left.
"The last two to three payrolls, we've been having issues from a cash-flow standpoint," he told the Tribune. "Over the last two payrolls, we had to delay some paychecks."
Over the past several years, management and financial disputes have led to the departure of a number of nationally known journalists, including Louis Weisberg, Lisa Neff and Jason Smith. The three now head the Wisconsin Gazette, an LGBT publication.
In direct conversations this afternoon with ChicagoPride.com, Bill Feld and Jeff McBride, co-general managers with CFP, deny a mass exodus or financial instability and indicate the paper will continue to publish as scheduled.
"When I didn't get paid, I felt no other option than to file for unemployment," Wooten told ChicagoPride.com. "I tried to reach Costanzo directly, without success". When making her unemployment claim, she also indicated that wage data records for the State of Illinois were not reported by CFP during the last year.
Simonette offered on a Facebook page for former CFP employees: "I will say that today is the first day in six months I woke up without having to take 2 or 3 ibuprofen. I think my liver is going to thank me for this."
The company's Web site lists about 20 employees at the newspaper. CFP claims an average of 18,000 copies distributed every week at locations throughout Chicago.
Today's developments follow the closing of a number of LGBT publications. In November, Gay publisher Window Media shut down the Washington Blade, after 40 years. Also ending runs in November were the Atlanta-based gay weekly Southern Voice, Houston Voice, David Atlanta, South Florida Blade and 411 Magazine.
Here in Chicago, the Windy City Times, which could soon be the city's only remaining LGBT newspaper, is set to celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2010.
Apparently, pay checks due on December 15, 2009, had not been issued to employees. The news follows financial struggles and decreased ad sales for the paper.
ChicagoPride.com has not independently verified whether art director Vince Lane and graphic designer Mike Corona remain with the publication, though ChicagoBreakingNews.com reports their departure.
CFP was created in 1999 when staff from the original Windy City Times, which was published by Jeffery McCourt, staged a walk-out to start a new publication. McCourt subsequently sold Windy City Times' name and archives to rival Outlines publisher Tracy Baim.
David Costanzo, publisher of CFP and a former investment banker/lawyer, bought the operation now known as Rainbow Media, LLC, d/b/a Chicago Free Press, in 2002.
Simonette said Constanzo has not been in the office for two weeks.
Late this afternoon, Constanzo told the Chicago Tribune that the paper will come out on time Thursday and that he plans to hire replacements for those who left.
"The last two to three payrolls, we've been having issues from a cash-flow standpoint," he told the Tribune. "Over the last two payrolls, we had to delay some paychecks."
Over the past several years, management and financial disputes have led to the departure of a number of nationally known journalists, including Louis Weisberg, Lisa Neff and Jason Smith. The three now head the Wisconsin Gazette, an LGBT publication.
In direct conversations this afternoon with ChicagoPride.com, Bill Feld and Jeff McBride, co-general managers with CFP, deny a mass exodus or financial instability and indicate the paper will continue to publish as scheduled.
"When I didn't get paid, I felt no other option than to file for unemployment," Wooten told ChicagoPride.com. "I tried to reach Costanzo directly, without success". When making her unemployment claim, she also indicated that wage data records for the State of Illinois were not reported by CFP during the last year.
Simonette offered on a Facebook page for former CFP employees: "I will say that today is the first day in six months I woke up without having to take 2 or 3 ibuprofen. I think my liver is going to thank me for this."
The company's Web site lists about 20 employees at the newspaper. CFP claims an average of 18,000 copies distributed every week at locations throughout Chicago.
Today's developments follow the closing of a number of LGBT publications. In November, Gay publisher Window Media shut down the Washington Blade, after 40 years. Also ending runs in November were the Atlanta-based gay weekly Southern Voice, Houston Voice, David Atlanta, South Florida Blade and 411 Magazine.
Here in Chicago, the Windy City Times, which could soon be the city's only remaining LGBT newspaper, is set to celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2010.
