SALUTE TO TWELVE YEARS OF THE CHICAGO JOURNAL
WHEREAS, The current iteration of the Chicago Journal, that first appeared in the bourgeoning South Loop neighborhood on Oct. 19, 2000, has published its final edition on the auspicious date of 12-12-12; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago Journal's first issue was an ambitious undertaking consisting of a 16-page broadsheet with seven pages of news, a political column by the ubiquitous University of Illinois political science professor Dick Simpson, a five-page arts and entertainment section and a two-pages of real estate information. However, it was its peach-colored paper that, for a time, made the Chicago Journal unique among its genre; and
WHEREAS, With the promise from publisher Dan Haley of "the latest, the most local, the most relevant stories about living (in the South Loop)", the Chicago Journal was buoyed by both the building boom that was taking place in that community and writers like a long-time South Loop resident Bonnie McGrath the Journal's longest-running contributor; and
WHEREAS, Unlike other Chicago weekly newspapers, the Chicago Journal stayed focused on covering news that either occurred within the geography it served or had a direct impact upon it. When the 2008 real estate meltdown severely curtailed the booming South Loop activity, editor Ben Meyerson was forced to make some tough choices; giving up its peach-colored broadsheet for a more economical uncolored tabloid size as well as shrinking the number of pages devoted to each section; and
WHEREAS, By sheer force of strong and relevant editorial content, the Chicago Journal has lasted another four years. However, the economic tsunami created by the convergence of the general economy and the disruptive technological changes taking place in how news is being conveyed has taken its toll; and
WHEREAS, From 1844 until 1929, the first Chicago Journal weathered the stiff competition until they began consolidation during the Great Depression. The banner name reapp...
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