Sic Transit Gloria: Time Out Chi Goes All Digital

Sic Transit Gloria: Time Out Chi Goes All Digital

I've always enjoyed Time Out Chicago. I think it's a worthy source for information about food and other fun in Chicago. It's really the only magazine I usually read cover-to-cover (Sorry, New Yorker, not even close).

Now, TOC is going all digital, joining all of us in the electronic ether who began and continue to communicate beyond pulp paper.

As someone who's been on LTHForum since Launch, I have huge regard for solely internet-based conversations.

Still, it seems a diminution for TOC to exist only electronically. And because it was the first print publication I ever wrote for (to which I’m still somewhat beholding to Heather Shouse, who once proudly proclaimed that she never read LTHForum), I can’t help but feel some sadness (though not as much, I must admit, as I feel about the complete abolition of the Food section in the Sun-Times).

Here's a link to a story about it at Crain's website (may be subscription only):

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... ut-chicago

As part of the transaction, the weekly publication's current top executives in Chicago will exit the city magazine's operation in April and the partnership will replace them with a new management team, the sources said. The departures will include that of president and editor-in-chief Frank Sennett, publisher Randy Hano, and three other top executives.

After the ownership change, Time Out Chicago will shift to a digital-only format, eliminating the print publication, the sources said. That news was reported earlier today by the Chicago Sun-Times. The transaction is expected to close later this month.

=R=

I haven't really read much of TOC other than their food coverage and, well, let's just say that maybe a change in management will help things in that department.

Tamarkin's skills as a critic are pretty sub-par. The self-congratulatory victory lap after giving 5 stars to the Lobby restaurant at the Peninsula was quite the sight to behold (including the always exciting interview about the review...who does that?). Between him the and now outgoing Editor-in-Chief, it seems they had more contempt than respect for their readership (real and potential).

This was one subscription I was planning to switch to iPad edition when my subscription was up. I hope it is readily searchable, not jut scanned pages.

While decisions like the Sun Times' make me cringe, I have to agree with jesteinf--much of TOC's "food" coverage annoyed the crap out of me. It often felt like sorority style shit-stirring--controversy for controversy's sake--and general snark and nastiness. Can't say that it saddens me to see good paper cease to be wasted on that effort. However, it does sicken me a bit to know that they were one of the featured "gifts" for new WBEZ subscribers during the just-concluded pledge drive--guessing that will cause the good folks at the station a few headaches to undo--and this, just after dealing with the demise of the print version of Newsweek (another of their standard giveaway items).

Hammond--I truly hope there's a future home for your food detective column--I'd read that even if I didn't know you Looking forward to hearing about your next endeavor.

jesteinf wrote:I haven't really read much of TOC other than their food coverage.

Their sports coverage sucks.

jesteinf wrote:Tamarkin's skills as a critic are pretty sub-par.

Consider Julia Kramer. I like her stuff.

As a former journalist who knows some current and former TOC employees, I'm always sad to see a print title cease publication and employees lose their jobs. TOC is one of the few publications I read in print, and I can't see myself transitioning to the digital edition. Feature articles aside, I enjoy being able to skim the events listings in their entirety, circle events that interest me and earmark pages of things I want to consider in the future. That's not easily done with online event listings.

Although I'm not a huge fan of the restaurant reviews, I find TOC's listing a restaurants a very good source for finding new places to eat. Beyond that, their coverage of music, theater, dance and museum exhibits in Chicago is tops and has been my go to guide for weekend entertainment for several years now. I enjoy the paper edition and will be sorry to see it go. I can only hope that the e-zine version will have the same comprehensive coverage of entertainment in Chicago. Sometimes the march of technology is not such a good thing.

Jonah

Jonah wrote:I can only hope that the e-zine version will have the same comprehensive coverage of entertainment in Chicago.

Me too, though Feder reported today that 60 people will be fired in the Chicago TO offices, and that reduced workforce seems likely to be reflected in reduced content.

I wonder if they are going to refund subscribers for the issues they will not be getting.

stevez wrote:I wonder if they are going to refund subscribers for the issues they will not be getting.

Yeah, I'm feeling fortunate that I've been waiting (aka procrastinating) to renew my subscription, which turns over in May. I've been a subscriber since day 1 and will be sad to see the print version TOC go.

=R=

We haven't figured out which marketing list DH's name got on, but we have been receiving complimentary subscriptions in his name to Martha Stewart Living and TImeOut Chicago Kids for at least two years. To say the demographic profile for these two pubs is wrong for him would be an understatement.

And while I read the Living magazine, TOC has gone straight into recycling. But the latest issue arrived in the mail Thursday, so I skimmed through it out of curiosity because of the news about the publishing plans. If I had kids or worked with them, this looks to me like a great resource; it's also well-written and edited. I think it will be missed by subscribers who can use that very targeted content.

We refer to it in particular when friends and family from out of town visit. But I can't say I look at it very often other than that. I suppose the digital version will serve the purpose just as well.

But I have 18 months left on my subscription, consarnit!

I hope it doesn't go the way of some of the TImeOut editions, which just list tourist attractions and general info (Film fest in April, Art fair in June/July). I like that TimeOut Chicago has current restaurant reviews, recommendations for activities this week, etc.

leek wrote:I hope it doesn't go the way of some of the TImeOut editions, which just list tourist attractions and general info (Film fest in April, Art fair in June/July). I like that TimeOut Chicago has current restaurant reviews, recommendations for activities this week, etc.

It's my understanding from someone close to the situation that the website is likely to look like Time Out New York.

Is there already a 2013 version of the Eating and Drinking guide out in bookstores, or does this mean there won't be one (in hard copy)? Please excuse my not knowing; I don't get out of the salt mine much.

chgoeditor wrote:It's my understanding from someone close to the situation that the website is likely to look like Time Out New York.

Based on my quick visit to that site just now, I have to say that if this is true, I think the all-digital Time Out Chicago will be more useful, not less, than the print edition. It seems to present the "what to do in [City] this week" information much more clearly and succinctly than I'm used to. I feel bad for the people who will lose their jobs, but despite being a long-time print subscriber, I'll probably actually look at Time Out Chicago more in the future than I do at present.

Didn't Time Out start as a London Publication? Since pubs in London will rent themselves out for special events, it was a handy way to keep track of the 100s of special events going on in London on any given weekend. The fact that you could carry it in your back pocket was handy (of course, that was before smartphones).

I will often (well, sometimes) tear out cover articles on food and leave them in my car for availability. I will miss that ease of access.

If Time Out Chicago stopped publishing while you still had an active subscription, they are offering refunds for any remaining money left on your subscription. Call 877-843-8862 before June 30 to request a refund.

Are they allowing print subscriptions to convert to iPad or whatever? Before, they were completely separate (unlike many other magazines that let you get a free iPad subscription if you have a print one)

TOC will only give refunds if you purchased your subscription through them. I purchased a subscription (inexpensively) from a magazine broker, and TOC will not cover those. When you contact the broker, they direct you to another broker, and that broker directs you to another broker who doesn't return calls. So it goes.

Note: I'm not quite sure how these last two sentences were added to my post. Nothing wrong with it, but it wasn't me. How odd.:

Yeah, I'm not even going to try to recover my $3.50 or whatever cash value is left of my subscription. Glad I only had a one-year subscription.

leek wrote:Are they allowing print subscriptions to convert to iPad or whatever? Before, they were completely separate (unlike many other magazines that let you get a free iPad subscription if you have a print one)

They offered to apply the balance toward one of their pocket guides, but I have absolutely no use for that, since I have a smartphone and LTH Forum.

stevez wrote:They offered to apply the balance toward one of their pocket guides, but I have absolutely no use for that, since I have a smartphone and LTH Forum.

Total sign of the times. I first became familiar with Time Out in London, where there are so many shows and special events on any given night that it is impossible to navigate without some sort of guide in your back pocket. It was perfect for that, but like you say, who needs it now that your pocket guide can also make telephone calls, send email and play angry birds.

Just a post-mortem on the switch to digital:
1. After some complaining, they said they would credit the unused subscription amount to the credit card I used to purchase the subscription. Dollars are tiny, but it just angered me that they could cancel a subscription like that with no recourse.
2. The web site is of no interest to me. So, something I used to read every week and actively use as a guide to entertainment is no longer a resource I use. This is particularly unfortunate for things like museum exhibits, dance and other areas I don't follow. Music, movies and restaurants I have plenty of sources for.

d4v3 wrote:
who needs it now that your pocket guide can also make telephone calls, send email and play angry birds.

And all on a display only 1/8 the size of a magazine page! Gee, that sure is convenient.