Employee upheaval and financial struggles plague the Chicago Free Press
Chicago, IL -
Chicago's LGBT community awaits the return of the Chicago Free Press next Thursday as the future of the gay newsweekly remains in question after key editorial staff walked out on December 21.
Despite the employee upheaval and financial struggles, publisher David Costanzo told the Chicago Reader last week that the Chicago Free Press lives. CFP has not ceased publication at this time and because of the holiday schedule has not published since the December 24 issue. The paper's website has not been updated since December 17.
Editor in chief Matt Simonette, art director Vincent Lane, graphic designer Mike Corona, senior writer Amy Wooten and a number of freelance contributors walked out because they had not been paid. According to Simonette, many staffers did not receive a paycheck on December 15.
General Managers Jeff McBride and Bill Feld remain at the paper and continue to recruit replacements. Sources tell ChicagoPride.com they have been unsuccessful in hiring staff with the expertise or knowledge to publish next week.
"They're trying to save the paper from him [Costanzo] as much as for him," CFP theatre editor Larry Bommer told the Reader.
The Chicago Free Press 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.
Costanzo, a former investment banker/lawyer, bought the operation now known as Rainbow Media, LLC, d/b/a Chicago Free Press, in 2002.
The Chicago Free Press is one of two Chicago newsweeklies that serve the LGBT community. The other is Windy City Times which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.
With the future of CFP in question, Gay Chicago Magazine has increased its local LGBT news coverage. Known primarily for nightlife and entertainment coverage, Gay Chicago last week introduced "Gay Chicago Newswatch" written by former Free Press news editor Gary Barlow.
"Last week Gary had two local LGBT news stories. This week Amy [Wooten] has two. CFP didn't have one," GCM owner Craig Gernhardt told ChicagoPride.com.
Wooten is contributing to CGM and ChicagoPride.com. Gernhardt also plans to bring Matt Simonette, former editor-in-chief at Chicago Free Press to his publication which is in its 34th year.
"But make no mistake, we're not going to stop covering the nightlife and entertainment," said Gernhardt.
LGBT print media outlets nationwide have faced a brutal climate in 2009, as advertising revenue and circulation plummeted. 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.
Although these publications have been the victim of the poor economic climate, comments by former Chicago Free Press employees on Facebook indicate the paper's struggles might be much deeper.
"I've written for every gay paper in the city over a course of 30 years, and I've dealt with drunks and egomaniacs but nothing like this," wrote former CFP contributor Rick Karlin.
"We've seen so many publications come and go over the years," said Gernhardt. "Gay Life. Babble. Gab. We've been down this road before."
Despite the employee upheaval and financial struggles, publisher David Costanzo told the Chicago Reader last week that the Chicago Free Press lives. CFP has not ceased publication at this time and because of the holiday schedule has not published since the December 24 issue. The paper's website has not been updated since December 17.
Editor in chief Matt Simonette, art director Vincent Lane, graphic designer Mike Corona, senior writer Amy Wooten and a number of freelance contributors walked out because they had not been paid. According to Simonette, many staffers did not receive a paycheck on December 15.
General Managers Jeff McBride and Bill Feld remain at the paper and continue to recruit replacements. Sources tell ChicagoPride.com they have been unsuccessful in hiring staff with the expertise or knowledge to publish next week.
"They're trying to save the paper from him [Costanzo] as much as for him," CFP theatre editor Larry Bommer told the Reader.
The Chicago Free Press 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.
Costanzo, a former investment banker/lawyer, bought the operation now known as Rainbow Media, LLC, d/b/a Chicago Free Press, in 2002.
The Chicago Free Press is one of two Chicago newsweeklies that serve the LGBT community. The other is Windy City Times which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.
With the future of CFP in question, Gay Chicago Magazine has increased its local LGBT news coverage. Known primarily for nightlife and entertainment coverage, Gay Chicago last week introduced "Gay Chicago Newswatch" written by former Free Press news editor Gary Barlow.
"Last week Gary had two local LGBT news stories. This week Amy [Wooten] has two. CFP didn't have one," GCM owner Craig Gernhardt told ChicagoPride.com.
Wooten is contributing to CGM and ChicagoPride.com. Gernhardt also plans to bring Matt Simonette, former editor-in-chief at Chicago Free Press to his publication which is in its 34th year.
"But make no mistake, we're not going to stop covering the nightlife and entertainment," said Gernhardt.
LGBT print media outlets nationwide have faced a brutal climate in 2009, as advertising revenue and circulation plummeted. 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.
Although these publications have been the victim of the poor economic climate, comments by former Chicago Free Press employees on Facebook indicate the paper's struggles might be much deeper.
"I've written for every gay paper in the city over a course of 30 years, and I've dealt with drunks and egomaniacs but nothing like this," wrote former CFP contributor Rick Karlin.
"We've seen so many publications come and go over the years," said Gernhardt. "Gay Life. Babble. Gab. We've been down this road before."
