Windy City Times

Summary

Windy City Times is an LGBT newspaper in Chicago that published its first issue on September 26, 1985.[1]

Windy City Times
Cover of the February 6, 2013 issue of Windy City Times
Cover of the February 6, 2013 issue
TypeWeekly newspaper
Founder(s)Drew Badanish
Tracy Baim
Bob Bearden
Jeff McCourt
PublisherTerri Klinsky
Editor-in-chiefAndrew Davis
(Executive Editor)
EditorTracy Baim
Managing editorMatt Simonette
Managing editor, designKirk Williamson
(art director)
Staff writersJonathan Abarbanel
Richard Knight, Jr.
Bob Roehr
Rex Wockner
Yvonne Zipter
Founded1985
LanguageEnglish
Headquarters5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, Illinois
CityChicago, IL
Sister newspapersNightspots
ISSN1049-698X
OCLC number20341561
Websitewindycitytimes.com

History edit

Windy City Times was founded in 1985 by Jeff McCourt, Bob Bearden, Drew Badanish and Tracy Baim, who started Sentury Publications to publish the paper.[2] In 1987, Baim left Sentury Publications to found a new newspaper called Outlines. WCT and Outlines were the two primary LGBT newspapers in the region for more than 12 years. In 2000, Baim purchased Windy City Times from McCourt, and merged the two publications.

In 2018, Baim became Publisher of the Chicago Reader and remains as owner of Windy City Media Group.

Terri Klinsky is now Publisher, Andrew Davis is Executive Editor, Matt Simonette is Managing Editor, Kirk Williamson is Art Director and Ripley Caine is Business Manager. Long-time writers include Rex Wockner, Yvonne Zipter, Bob Roehr, Richard Knight Jr., Jonathan Abarbanel. Jean Albright is Director of New Media and Circulation.

McCourt died in 2007.[3]

In 2017, journalist Gretchen Rachel Hammond was removed from her job after she published a story about three LGBT women who were expelled from a Gay Pride march for carrying a rainbow flag featuring a Jewish Star.[4][5] Shortly after, she was hired as a reporter for Tablet.[6]

Windy City Media Group announced on Sept. 9, 2020 that, as of Sept. 30, 2020, the biweekly print version will cease. News and feature coverage will continue digitally at www.windycitymediagroup.com.[7]

The site has archived 70,000 articles from Windy City Times and other previous products including Nightspots—a biweekly, four-color, glossy entertainment guide—and Identity, a monthly online magazine. WCMG has also produced a twice-weekly podcast, Windy City Queercast, online videos, and a weekly e-newsletter.[citation needed] All products are now archived at windycitytimes.com.

Awards edit

Windy City Times is a member of the National Gay Newspaper Guild, and has received numerous honors for its work, both from journalism organizations and from the LGBT community. Awards include from the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association, the Peter Lisagor Awards, and the Studs Terkel Award for Baim. Among groups honoring WCMG and Baim: Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame; ACLU of Illinois; Human Rights Campaign; NOW; March on Washington Chicago Committee; Dignity/Chicago; Affinity; Greater Chicago Committee; Association of Latin Men in Action; and more.[citation needed]

In 2021, the newspaper won the Barbara Gittings Award for Excellence in LGBTQ Media at the 32nd GLAAD Media Awards.[8]

References edit

  1. ^ Windy City Times (Chicago, Il) 1985-Current, Library of Congress, retrieved 15 Oct 2020
  2. ^ Barnhurst, Kevin G. (2007). Media Queered: Visibility and Its Discontents. New York City: Peter Lang. pp. 143–147. ISBN 978-0-8204-9533-0.
  3. ^ "Journalist who helped start Windy City Times is dead". The Advocate. May 11, 2007. Retrieved 2019-08-22.
  4. ^ "Journalist who broke Chicago Dyke March story removed from reporting duties". The Times of Israel. Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 11 July 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  5. ^ Hemingway, Mark (13 July 2017). "Being Gay Won't Save You from the LGBT Thought Police". The Weekly Standard. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  6. ^ Newhouse, Alana (8 August 2017). "Welcoming Gretchen Hammond to Tablet". Tablet. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  7. ^ "Windy City Times moves to Digital Only". Windy City Times. 9 Sep 2020. Retrieved 14 Oct 2020.
  8. ^ "Disclosure, Schitt's Creek, Sam Smith, Happiest Season, I May Destroy You, CHIKA, Veneno, Star Trek: Discovery, The Boys in the Band, The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo among award recipients at the 32nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards". GLAAD. April 8, 2021. Archived from the original on April 9, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2021.

External links edit

  • Official website
  • Windy City Media Group
  • Windy City Times Twitter