Hyperlocal News Site Covering Roscoe Village, West Lakeview Launches

By Kevin Robinson in News on Aug 17, 2010 4:30PM

Mike Fourcher, the founder of the Center Square Journal (and former Chicagoisto) launched his second hyperlocal news site this week, Roscoe View Journal, focusing on news from Roscoe Village and West Lakeview. "We're doing everything we can to make sure they are as independent as possible," Fourcher told me. "Every neighborhood is different, and they all have a voice. We want to make sure those voices come through - and it'll be a top priority for us with RoscoeViewJournal.com. We'll be looking for some folks to get us input on events and the newest neighborhood places to go."

While each site is unique to the neighborhoods they cover, it seems Fourcher has set up a network of local news sites. Fourcher acknowledges that he's used some of the Gothamist model in setting up his sites. "We definitely are taking ideas from the greats" he says, noting that, "We watch a lot of sites for ideas, like Myballard.com, Baristanet.com, theBatavian.com and even Patch.com. Like Louis Armstrong once said, 'If it sounds good, it is good.' Hyperlocal is a fast changing, inventive environment, so we try to stay open minded."

Fourcher says that he's excited about opening a new site, he just didn't think it would happen so quickly. "We're very excited about the positive response from the business community as well as readers," he says, and he's looking forward to seeing Roscoe View Journal grow as quickly as Center Square Journal did.