Windy City Times Founder Takes The Reins At The Reader

Chicago Reader
Morning Shift talked on Wednesday with Tracy Baim, the newly-appointed publisher of the Chicago Reader. Chicago Reader
Chicago Reader
Morning Shift talked on Wednesday with Tracy Baim, the newly-appointed publisher of the Chicago Reader. Chicago Reader

Windy City Times Founder Takes The Reins At The Reader

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The Chicago Reader has had its share of ups and downs since its founding in 1971. Now, in its latest effort to right its ship, the current owners of the publication have turned to the co-founder of another longtime Chicago alternative newspaper to take over as publisher.

Tracy Baim helped create the LGBTQ-focused Windy City Times in 1985, when the Reader was a four-section publication with annual revenues nearing $6 million. The media landscape has transformed greatly since those days and Baim says her goal is to make the Reader solvent and relevant, increasing both its readership and revenues.

Morning Shift talks with Baim about her plans to achieve that goal. We also take a look at her long career at the Windy City Times and some of the notable moments in LGBTQ history since that paper’s founding 33 years ago.

GUEST: Tracy Baim, co-founder of the Windy City Times and publisher of the Chicago Reader

LEARN MORE: Tracy Baim named new publisher of Chicago Reader (Chicago Sun-Times 9/13/18)

Windy City Times’ Tracy Baim named publisher of Chicago Reader (GoPride.com 9/13/18)