Chicago's only LGBTQ newspaper Windy City Times will move to a digital-only format starting in October. The Sept. 30th edition marking the paper's 35th anniversary will be its last print issue however their website will continue to be updated regularly. Tracy Baim who was one of the original founders in 1985 along with Jeff McCourt, Bob Bearden & Drew Badanish purchased Windy City Times in 2000 & became Windy City Times publisher. Baim who is majority owner of WCT joined the Chicago Reader as publisher in 2018. Her longtime staff took over WCT including Publisher Terri Klinsky, Executive Editor Andrew Davis, Managing Editor Matt Simonette, Art Director Kirk Williamson, Director of New Media Jean Albright & bookkeeper Ripley Caine. Tracy Baim stated, "I am very sad to see the print edition go away. Our staff, freelancers & drivers have given so much to Windy City Times over the years. I thank the team for really working hard to sustain WCT. Hundreds of people worked at & supported this company through so many difficult times. Windy City Times is not closing, but losing the print paper is painful. We know many people prefer the print model, but the economics are just not sustainable." Windy City Times was among only about two dozen weekly or biweekly LGBTQ newspapers left in the U.S. to hold on to print during the decline in advertising & support of newspapers in recent years but COVID-19 & its impact on the paper's core entertainment advertisers meant continuing a print paper was just not feasible. The Sept. 30th final print edition of Windy City Times will be a special collector's edition revisiting the last 35 years of its publication.
For More Info: windycitymediagroup.com
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