New voices joining our Vocalo blog network

New voices joining our Vocalo blog network

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It’s hard to believe it’s been seven months since we started meeting here like this and kicked off what I’d hoped would evolve into “a lively, ongoing dialogue about media issues.” I’m happy to say it’s become all that and more.

Now it’s time for another big step forward for blogs.vocalo.org: Beginning next week, three new bloggers will appear on this site, joining a lineup that includes Lee Bey, Steve Dolinsky, Amy Krouse Rosenthal and yours truly.

achy-finalAchy Obejas

In addition to the previously announced hiring of rock critic and “Sound Opinions” host Jim DeRogatis, who’ll cover the world of pop music in his “PopNStuff” blog, author and editor Anne Elizabeth Moore will re-envision Studs Terkel’s 1967 classic Division Street: America with her own “Revision Street: America,” and veteran journalist and author Achy Obejas (with whom I worked decades ago at the Sun-Times) will explore Chicago’s places, moments and people with “Citylife.” They all start June 2.

Onboard since last week is former Chicago Reader reporter John Conroy, who’s blogging exclusively here about the trial of Jon Burge, the former Chicago police commander who allegedly oversaw the torture of scores of suspects in the 1980s and ’90s. No one has tracked the Burge story more closely over the years than Conroy.

Also joining this site will be Steve Edwards, content development director at parent company Chicago Public Media and former host of “Eight Forty-Eight” on WBEZ-FM (91.5). ‚ Doing what he does so superbly, Edwards will interview and profile prominent Chicagoans and provide local analysis and commentary. In his new online feature called “The Edit Booth,” he’ll incorporate extensive video and audio elements.

Justin Kaufmann, Chicago Public Media senior content developer (and the man who makes the trains run on time here), said in a statement: “The blog network at Vocalo.org just keeps getting better and better. It’s the best group of bloggers in Chicago, hands down.”

Cut it out, Justin. You’re making us blush.