Windy City Times
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article does not cite any references or sources. (November 2007) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. |
Windy City Times is Chicago's oldest LGBT newspaper, and the only Chicago gay publication with an independent circulation audit. Verified Audit Circulation has, since 1951, provided independent circulation auditing to the international newspaper industry and has, since 2005, documented Windy City Times' circulation accuracy, transparency, and accountability through regular onsite audit of printing, distribution and financial records. Windy City Times is published by Windy City Media Group, which also publishes Nightspots, a weekly 4-color glossy club and entertainment guide, and Identity, an online magazine. WCMG also produces a twice-weekly podcast, Windy City Queercast, and a weekly e-newsletter.
Windy City Times was co-founded in 1985 by four people; only one is still associated with the publication. Jeff McCourt, Bob Bearden, Drew Badanish and Tracy Baim were the four original founders. In 1987, Baim left WCT to found Outlines newspaper. WCT and Outlines were the two primary gay newspapers in the region for more than a dozen years. In 2000, Baim purchased WCT back from McCourt and merged her Outlines newspaper into Windy City Times. Baim is Publisher and Executive Editor of Windy City Media Group. Andrew Davis is Managing Editor, Kirk Williamson is Art Director, Terri Klinsky is Assistant Publisher and Cynthia Holmes is Business Manager. Long-time writers include Rex Wockner, Yvonne Zipter, Bob Roehr, Richard Knight Jr., Jonathan Abarbanel, and more. Director of New Media is Jean Albright, Senior News Reporter is Amy Wooten.
The Windy City Queercast host is Amy Matheny.
Windy City Times is a member of the elite National Gay Newspaper Guild, and has received numerous honors for its work, both from journalism organizations and from the community. Awards include from the National Gay and Lesbian Journalists Association, the Peter Lisagor Awards, the Studs Terkel Award for Baim, and many more. Among groups honoring WCMG and Baim: 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.
