# Chicago Reader changes hands **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 24, 2007, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-reader-changes-hands/413020 "2007-07-24T23:16:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2007, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-reader-changes-hands/413020/1 "2007-07-24T23:16:24Z")
[http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/news-bites/2007/07/24/reader-has-new-owners/](http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/news-bites/2007/07/24/reader-has-new-owners/) > [@](#): > > The staffs of the Chicago Reader and its sister Washington City Paper just found out the papers have been sold to a southern chain, Creative Loafing Inc., which publishes alternative weeklies in Atlanta, Tampa, Sarasota, and Charlotte. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2007, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-reader-changes-hands/413020/2 "2007-07-24T23:18:26Z")
Creative Loafing? The mission statement for the Dope should be expanded to reflect the lack of productivity that this place can inspire. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2007, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-reader-changes-hands/413020/3 "2007-07-24T23:22:46Z")
I’ve got a bad feeling about this. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2007, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-reader-changes-hands/413020/4 "2007-07-24T23:23:07Z")
Hmmm…this could be the Bell Tolling For The SDMB™. They could kill the Board. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2007, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-reader-changes-hands/413020/5 "2007-07-24T23:25:23Z")
I dunno, if any of these Dopers visit Chicago, they’re sure to pick up a copy of the Reader and see what wonderful events (and advertisers) Chicago has to offer during their stay. 😃 But really, the Reader was the first thing I looked for coming out of Midway. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2007, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-reader-changes-hands/413020/6 "2007-07-24T23:26:53Z")
Is it time for the ominous music on the soundtrack of the SDMB to start playing yet? ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2007, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-reader-changes-hands/413020/7 "2007-07-24T23:27:50Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] Hmmm…this could be the Bell Tolling For The SDMB™. They could kill the Board. [/QUOTE] Well, they _could_…or they could jack up the rates. That’s more likely, I think. ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2007, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-reader-changes-hands/413020/8 "2007-07-24T23:35:52Z")
When I lived in Atlanta back in the '80’s, Creative Loafing was a wonderful paper. I hope they don’t kill the board. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2007, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-reader-changes-hands/413020/9 "2007-07-24T23:38:55Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] Hmmm…this could be the Bell Tolling For The SDMB™. They could kill the Board. [/QUOTE] I doubt it. [Creative Loafing news release](http://www.chicagoreader.com/features/blogs/pdf/CreativeLoafing0707241.pdf) (pdf) > [@](#): > > Also included in the acquisition is the “Straight Dope” syndicated column, whose associated website, [straightdope.com](http://straightdope.com), has nearly 2.3 million page views per month. > > \ > > “. . .The addition of two top-ten markets – and two of the industry’s most respected alternative news products – offers us a pivotal gateway of connectivity with the young adult audience.” > > “Our expansion into Chicago and Washington reflects our confidence in the future of alternative publishing – in print, on the web and in other media as they emerge,” Eason said. “While others may be looking at publishing companies through the lens of old print media, we are pioneering the opportunities offered by convergent print, web, and new media applications.” Maybe we’ll finally see some bandwidth improvement – that’d be nice. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2007, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-reader-changes-hands/413020/10 "2007-07-24T23:54:22Z")
[Creative Loafing at Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_Loafing) [Chicago Reader at Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Reader) > [@](#): > > Creative Loafing Atlanta, first published in 1972, is the oldest of the four papers, and currently has the largest circulation of the four papers, at around 130,000. This makes it one of the top twenty alternative weeklies in the United States, as indexed by the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. > [@](#): > > The Chicago Reader… As of June 2006, the average weekly circulation, audited by the Audit Bureau of Circulations, was 120,204. It looks like the [Creative loafing papers carry the STRAIGHT DOPE](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&c2coff=1&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hs=PL9&q=%22Creative+Loafing%22+%22cecil+adams%22&btnG=Search) . ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2007, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-reader-changes-hands/413020/11 "2007-07-25T00:19:30Z")
[QUOTE=Squink] It looks like the [Creative loafing papers carry the STRAIGHT DOPE](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&c2coff=1&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hs=PL9&q=%22Creative+Loafing%22+%22cecil+adams%22&btnG=Search) . [/QUOTE] It doesn’t seem to be a regular feature, but whenever the carried the Straight Dope column, they closed by promoting the SDMB, as well (which I’m sure was part of the copyrights, but still). [ > [@](#): > > _Copyright 2002 Chicago Reader Inc. Comments, questions? Take it up with Cecil on the Straight Dope message board, [www.straightdope.com](http://www.straightdope.com), or write him at the Chicago Reader, 11 E. Illinois, Chicago, IL 60611._ ]([http://tampa.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A2197](http://tampa.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A2197)) [ > [@](#): > > _Comments, questions? Take it up with Cecil on the Straight Dope Message Board, [www.straightdope.com](http://www.straightdope.com). Cecil’s most recent compendium of knowledge,_ Triumph of the Straight Dope, _is available at bookstores everywhere._ ]([http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A18233](http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A18233)) ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2007, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-reader-changes-hands/413020/12 "2007-07-25T01:15:21Z")
Can’t speculate on what might happen because none of us know yet. We’ll pass on what we know when we know it. But one way or the other the problems you’ve been unhappy about will doubtless be resolved. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2007, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-reader-changes-hands/413020/13 "2007-07-25T01:58:31Z")
> [@](#): > > "The addition of two top-ten markets – and two of the industry’s most respected alternative news products – offers us a pivotal gateway of connectivity with the young adult audience.” That scares me more than the prospect of them simply shutting down the board. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2007, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-reader-changes-hands/413020/14 "2007-07-25T02:07:59Z")
Doesn’t every worthwhile alternative style paper carry The Straight Dope? I’ll hope for the better, but I still have this sinking feeling hearing of the sale. That last quote makes me think of the up surge in guest troll postings every year after school lets out. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2007, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-reader-changes-hands/413020/15 "2007-07-25T02:11:55Z")
Just to echo **Tubadiva** ’s comments: moderators on the Message Boards have been asked not to comment, since we know nothing. Speculation in the absence of data is useless spinning of wheels. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2007, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-reader-changes-hands/413020/16 "2007-07-25T02:14:26Z")
Fighting Ignorance from 1973 to 2007. RIP. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2007, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-reader-changes-hands/413020/17 "2007-07-25T02:16:50Z")
> [@](#): > > Speculation in the absence of data is useless spinning of wheels. If they’re against speculation in the absense of data, this board’s definitely in trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2007, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-reader-changes-hands/413020/18 "2007-07-25T02:16:52Z")
I live in Atlanta and pick up _Creative Loafing_ occasionally. It does a lot of investigative local stories, but also has a lot of stupid crap. Hope they don’t move the _Reader_ in a different direction. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2007, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-reader-changes-hands/413020/19 "2007-07-25T02:23:09Z")
What would it cost to keep this board going? Would enough members be willing to ante up if someone pulled the plug? ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2007, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-reader-changes-hands/413020/20 "2007-07-25T02:30:20Z")
[QUOTE=blondebear] What would it cost to keep this board going? Would enough members be willing to ante up if someone pulled the plug? [/QUOTE] The problem is that the new owners of the board wouldn’t own the Straight Dope brand, and there’d be some new and probably not insignificant costs associated with licensing it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-reader-changes-hands/413020.md?page=2)