Windy City Times

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

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

History

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 September 9, 2020 that, as of September 30, the biweekly print version would cease. News and feature coverage 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

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 are 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; and Association of Latin Men in Action.[citation needed]

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

References

  1. ^ Windy City Times (Chicago, Il) 1985-Current, Library of Congress, retrieved October 15, 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 August 22, 2019.
  4. ^ "Journalist who broke Chicago Dyke March story removed from reporting duties". The Times of Israel. Jewish Telegraphic Agency. July 11, 2017. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  5. ^ Hemingway, Mark (July 13, 2017). "Being Gay Won't Save You from the LGBT Thought Police". The Weekly Standard. Retrieved July 13, 2017.[dead link‍]
  6. ^ Newhouse, Alana (August 8, 2017). "Welcoming Gretchen Hammond to Tablet". Tablet. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  7. ^ "Windy City Times moves to Digital Only". Windy City Times. September 9, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 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.