Feder Moves On

By Chuck Sudo in News on Nov 23, 2010 3:00PM

Of the former Vocalo blogs, Robert Feder's media blog was the centerpiece of them all and the foundation for which the others (Steve Dolinsky, Lee Bey, Achy Obejas, et al) came into orbit.

Chicago Public Media will have to move on without Feder. Conspicuously absent for more than a month while the Vocalo blogs were folded into the WBEZ website redesign, Feder yesterday announced that he was leaving Chicago Public Media.

While Feder is leaving Chicago Public Media, he did promise that he will not be leaving the media beat, saying, "I expect to make an announcement about my new online home soon." Some, like Tribune media columnist Phil Rosenthal, suspect that the website redesign gave Feder an out to move his columns elsewhere. The WBEZ redesign has been marred by technical difficulties, making the former Vocalo blogs at times hard to find.

Feder also leaves with his bargaining power at a premium. He proved that, even though the Sun-times let him go, he was still the best media columnist in the city, in the process reminding editors and readers that, regardless of the medium, solid reporting and writing will still be the fuel that powers the engine.

You can still read Feder's blog at robertfeder.com.