Chicagoist: Swindlepalooza

Slats Grobnik

Mon, 07 Aug 2006 12:27:15 -0600

One would think that with Lollapalooza drawing 170,000 people to the lakefront, the Tribune might devote its lead story to the music festival, if not to review the performances, to at least explain to the uninformed what was going on, and why all those sweaty kids wouldn't let them turn onto Congress this weekend. Sorry, but Lollapalooza is not a news story. Nothing noteworthy happened there. It is perhaps a front page of the Tempo section story at most. Listen, the Trib's news department is pretty weak as it is--anytime they do serious reporting it should be lauded. Take a look at their pathetic and inane Redeye if you want coverage of meaningless coverage of conspicuous consumption.

Matt

Mon, 07 Aug 2006 12:13:25 -0600

Thad, I actually thought the story was fascinating too, just not front page material. I would love to do my own investigative reporting, but we just don't have the resources and time. Without getting paid to do it for a living, I think the trick would be finding the right story to follow over a long period of time, perhaps something you've dealt with in your real life or to which you have a personal connection. Otherwise, I don't know that amateur bloggers, Chicagoist included, will ever have the time or dedication to really dig much deeper than local events and what we can read second hand.

Thad

Mon, 07 Aug 2006 11:54:53 -0600

I get the sense you really didn't like the Trib story on this land deal. It is hard to say, as tone is often lost on blog writing. I thought the story was fascinating, and certainly more important than a music festival that was huge but pretty well covered in the past few weeks. And this frontpager was better than the frontpager last Sunday (I think) about people lying on online matchmaking sites. One day, I would love to see blogs do regular investigative reporting instead of, say, endless bar reviews or, on other sites, superficial political rants. Until more blogs find a way to pay people to do investigative reporting on a regular basis, or do heavy doses of government watchdogging, they really will function as nothing more than a glorified letters-to-the-editor page.