Chicago gay entertainment glossy Gay
Chicago Magazine has expanded its coverage to include local LGBT
news coverage as the future of gay weekly the Chicago Free Press
becomes increasingly uncertain.
David Costanzo, whose Rainbow Media
acquired the Chicago Free
Press in 2002, dismissed the December 21 walkout of senior
staff members. Editor-in-Chief Matt Simonette was joined by Art
Director Vincent Lane, Graphic Designer Mike Corona, Senior Writer
Amy Wooten and a number of freelance contributors in walking out of
the paper over non-payment.
ChicagoPride.com
is reporting that Costanzo has yet to fill the paper's vacancies and
its website has not been updated since December 17.
Several former Press staffers
have fled into the arms of its rival, Gay Chicago Magazine,
which has expanded into news coverage.
“Last week Gary had two local LGBT
news stories,” Gay Chicago Magazine owner Craig Gernhardt
told ChicagoPride.com referring to former Press News Editor
Gary Barlow. “This week, Amy [Wooten] has two. Chicago Free
Press didn't have one.”
Gernhardt also said Matt Simonette has
agreed to join his publication.
Earlier in the year, the mini gay
publishing empire of Window Media cratered under the weight of its
financial obligations, ending press runs for LGBT papers from Florida
to Washington, including the iconic Washington Blade.
The next issue of Chicago
Free Press is scheduled to hit newstands on Thursday.