Today is Wednesday, and on Wednesday mornings, I pick up a copy of the local newspaper, the "Chicago Northwest Side Press", owned and operated by the Nadig Newspapers (the Press, Reporter, Journal). I'm glad to have a local newspaper to read; many local papers including the Pioneer Press, have folded in the last few years. No one is quite sure what will happen to print media, as many of us rely on web based news outlets these days.But, there is just something about expecting to get the real deal from a tangible, in your hands, newspaper.
"It's American, like apple pie", a neighbor said to me at a recent community forum. "There is so much nonsense on the Internet, I'm never sure what to believe. The local paper, staffed with writers who have been around for years, are the real experts about what's happening in neighborhoods".
I agree.
I do have some suggestions for the Nadig Newspapers though. I am going to list a few observations about the Nadig News, and my thoughts on what I think could improve the paper. I invite all of you to post your thoughts and constructive advice for the owner/publisher and staff writers for the Nadig Papers:
- The communities in the 41st Ward are home to many skilled workers, a significant number of them on the city payroll. It would be refreshing to see stories written from a workers point of view (including union workers).
- Would like to see an Opinion - Editorial section and a "Letters to the Editors" section.
- Would like to see more challenging articles written about obvious community problems: forclosures, crime, loss of small manufacturing base, population & demographic changes, school overcrowding, etc...
- Would like to see more in-depth interviewing of business owners, some of their challenges and sucesses.
- Would like to see some varied political reporting...the 41st Ward is home to people with very diverse political ideologies - not eclusively a Republican stronghold anymore. Recent demographic changes include larger numbers of young families, singles and minorities moving into the area who have progressive, non-partisan, democratic and even tea party alliances.
Pioneer Press left Chicago's northwest side and several other suburban markets not because of the internet or the economy but because of The Suits who took over after Conrad Black got busted (Black was smart enough not to kill the goose that laid the golden egg) were ignorant of managing a newspaper and made mindboggling incompetent and inept decisions. Chicago's northwest side is a highly viable market for a competitor against Nadig Newspapers, there is plenty of local news and advertisers who want to get their message out to consumers, but a startup newspaper would be no simple task. - from a 23 year Pioneer Press employee.
ReplyDeleteI agree the political commentaries need to have some variety. Russ Stewart shouldn't be the only political writer published week after week. Would be interesting to see more written about the connection from the wards to city hall and how city hall decisions effect local residents.
ReplyDeleteSome human interest stories about people who do good things for others.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know there were food pantries around here until I needed to visit one after losing my job. A local paper telling us what goes on in the neighborhood and how things work would be great.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in a community that had an excellent neighborhood paper owned by a family that lived in the neighborhood and really cared. To be honest, I bought the Nadig paper a few times and couldn't find much in that appealed to me. Mostly ads and a few church and school announcements - the crime blotter covers neighborhoods south of here, and there is absolutely no local sports coverage. I like reading about politics, but the Nadig paper really doesn't write much about the local political scene. I have learned more about politics by reading this blog and a few others
ReplyDeleteNadig paper ok. Couple good writers, but they have to bust out and write something besides the boring...
ReplyDeleteA new local newspaper would be a good idea. Nadig could use a little competition, but I agree start up would be difficult.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of the Nadig paper. I used to get the Pioneer Press paper and thought that was a decent paper. I bought it every week and hired local handymen, plumbers, etc from the ads
ReplyDeleteI'm glad someone else said they never heard of the Nadig paper. Since the Pioneer Press folded, I feel as though I lost touch with the neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteNadig's main page
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nadignewspapers.com/
This page posts a PDF of the previous week's issue with the current week's classifieds
http://www.nadignewspapers.com/Newspapers/Newspapers.htm
Pioneer has a newspaper but it's geared primarily to Norridge/Harwood Heights. Pretty expensive too...went from 1.00 to 2.00 in a week
ReplyDeleteNadig is a right leaning paper writing for communities who elect left leaning politicians. Go figure
ReplyDeleteI'd like NADIG to ask our local elected officials if they are dues-paying members of the American Legislative Executive Council (ALEC). ALEC has been around for many years, and is propped up by Right-wing think tanks, such as the Koch brothers, and right leaning corporations, like Coke-a Cola and Kraft Foods.
ReplyDeleteALEC writes pro corporate legislation, handing it off to their members/state legislators, who then push it through their respective state legislatures, where it often becomes law. In return ALEC funnels cash into the election efforts of the member/legislators, as well as hosting numerous out-of -town getaways for these obediant legislaators. Most are Republican, as if that needed to be said.
Go ahead NADIG, ask the question and report the answer.
I live in Norwood Park and the Nadig paper just doesn't cover news up here. I'm looking at today's paper right now and most of the news relates to neighborhoods south and east of here.
ReplyDeleteI do think we need our own newspaper.
I have been getting the Nadig paper for over 30 years. I live in Norwood and have found that it covers news from surrounding commmunities including Norwood Park. If items are sent in on what we are doing they will print it. Yes it would be nice to have our own paper back too.
ReplyDeleteThe problem with newspapers is that it's yesterday's news.
ReplyDelete