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Memories Of The Octopus And How To Fill The Void |
Current rating: 0 |
by Sandra Ahten
Email: spiritofsandra (nospam) hotmail.com (verified) |
07 Jan 2003
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As a former Octopus employee and current contributor to the Public i I contempate the past and future of alternative newspapers in C-U.
The many times that the Octopus was about to close I was always sad for the potential loss, but I also felt it was possible that the closing would make an opening for something better. I still believe that.
Is the Public i that "something" better? Perhaps a coalition between the Public i, WEFT and the IMC Website. I don't know. A group of dedicated citizen journalist- editors have been producing the Public i, a true community newspaper, for two years. It has grown from 4,000 to 5,000 copies printed with each run. It has grown from 8 to 12 pages per issue. It has changed from a model that mimicked corporate owned newspaper structure with a steady editor and clearly defined sections to newspaper that is collectively shaped, edited, proofed, and distributed. We have rotating editors and guest editors. I am part of that collective. You would not believe how peaceful and productive our meetings are. We produce a compelling paper with little or no angst these days - though we've had our share in the past. I'm afraid of what the closing of the CU Cityview will mean to the Public i. It seems we are just getting on a roll. Is bigger better? Is more often better? Should we even attempt to fill the hole left by the closing? If so, what part of the hole should we fill? The arts and entertainment void? The community calendar void?
There are many questions to consider. Thankfully, as we answer them we will have one consideration in mind -- what is best for the community. The community includes those who are doing the work and the readers. If you would like to have input -- you are welcome to attend the next meeting of the Public i.
Thursday, Jan 9, 2003 (and each week thereafter)
5:30- 6:30pm
IMC, 218 W. Main Street, Urbana (where Main and Springfield split) |
Memories of the Octopus & How to Fill the Void
I was not political when I moved here seven years ago. The Optimist changed all that. Besides giving me hope for feeling at home in Champaign Urbana this little monthly newspaper gave me some clues about what to do and how to get my feet wet in my new environs. Through it I learned about the Food Coop and the Progressive Resource Action Cooperative. It linked me to WEFT to the community radio station. Would have I grown in the same way without the newspaper as a resource? I don't think so.
In each edition of the paper there was an open invitation to the monthly editorial meeting. I decided to attend. What a decision that was. A group of 25 to 35 people sat on the hard wood floor of the Whole Life Center in a beautiful loft space in downtown Champaign. Paul Young conducted the meeting by opening the floor up to comments about the previous issue-- What was good and what could be better? Then people offered suggestions about future stories. I piped up with a story idea. Paul looked at me and replied "That's good idea, why don't you write it."
A part of me shriveled and a part of me surged. I honestly had never given thought to that I might write for the paper. Journalists were someone else. I was a late blooming college student. A mother. My work background was in the trucking and insurance industries. Yes, I was studying art. Maybe someday I could do an illustration. But me write a story? I didn't think so.
However I did offer to gather info for the community calendar. I was an avid bulletin board reader and loved to find out what was going on in town. And so began my relationship with the Optimist, an alternative newspaper that formed in 1994 in Champaign Urbana. It would soon be the Octopus and then would, as of last week, end it's life as the CU-Cityview.
I was employed by the Octopus for several years -- though it would be a far stretch to imply that I made a living there - I certainly made a life. I entered information in the data base that would make the calendar, delivered papers, wrote features, reviewed restaurants, covered concerts, and illustrated many articles. I witnessed a blow between an editor and a writer. I made friends that I hope will last a lifetime. I got paid $30 for a feature article while the graphic designer made $30,000 a year. I debated sex-ads or no sex-ads versus Octopus or no Octopus. I read every issue cover to cover - until it just became a little bit less interesting and then a little less. I was there when editor Greg held an issue of the paper hostage. (For a paycheck, I think). I was there when the editor was Joseph, a PhD in philosophy, who also wrote the astrology column. (That combination still intrigues me.) For awhile our receptionist drank beer at her desk every morning. (She's sober today.) We often had four or five dogs in the office. The lead salesperson during my tenure was a guy named Al whose redeeming quality was his chocolate chip cookies.
Things got really rocky financially and Paul was contemplating bankruptcy. Yesse! Corporation, a company who owned alternative weeklies in Bloomington IN as well as Springfield IL bought the paper. They retained Paul as publisher for a short while. I didn't so much mind that there would be different rules. But I could tell just by the exclamation point in their name that the paper was making at Turn! for the worse. I witnessed a few nauseating pep talks from YESSE! corporate clowns and I quietly bowed out. It was time for me to go. By this time, I had student loans to begin paying off.
I still relied on the paper. I picked it up every week, although I have to admit I scanned it more and read it less. I didn't see nearly as many local names. We all have our opinion -- and the focus away from politics and toward more and more movie reviews just wasn't my thing. But I still read articles that interested me, I admired those that contributed, and I relied on the calendar. I wanted it to beat the odds - to somehow get out from under the black financial cloud that plagued it from the get-go. It wasn't to be. On January 5, 2003 the employees of the CU-Cityview, were told by Saga Communications that they were ceasing publication. No notice. No howdy-do. Just good-bye.
Although the paper had a "community paper" feel to it in the beginning when it was strictly a locally owned business, it was never anything but a for-profit corporation. Paul Young the founder, owner, and sometimes editor never made any bones about the fact that he was trying to make a buck, but at least he had a heartfelt interest in the community. Saga does not care that there is a hole left where the Octopus once stood. It is up to the people who do care to try to fill that hole.
This time let's do it with our eyes open. Let's do as a non-profit paper. Let's be a community that find a way to support alternative media. We are doing it. We have WEFT. We have the Independent Media Center. But unlike supporting a newspaper by buying beer from the advertisers. When you say I have an idea for a story - the answer will not be "Great we'll write that for you." But rather "Good why don't you write it." Or "Here's the name of a writer. Will you help with the research?" Or "Who do you know, who we can interview about that?" Or "Speak into the microphone and tell us what you know." Supporting the newspaper will mean opening your checkbook. It will mean coming in for an hour or two to enter data or to deliver papers to the coffee shops.
The many times that the Octopus was about to close I was always sad for the potential loss, but I also felt it was possible that the closing would make an opening for something better. I still believe that.
Is the Public i that "something" better? Perhaps a coalition between the Public i, WEFT and the IMC Website. I don't know. A group of dedicated citizen journalist- editors have been producing the Public i, a true community newspaper, for two years. It has grown from 4,000 to 5,000 copies printed with each run. It has grown from 8 to 12 pages per issue. It has changed from a model that mimicked corporate owned newspaper structure with a steady editor and clearly defined sections to newspaper that is collectively shaped, edited, proofed, and distributed. We have rotating editors and guest editors. I am part of that collective. You would not believe how peaceful and productive our meetings are. We produce a compelling paper with little or no angst these days - though we've had our share in the past. I'm afraid of what the closing of the CU Cityview will mean to the Public i. It seems we are just getting on a roll. Is bigger better? Is more often better? Should we even attempt to fill the hole left by the closing? If so, what part of the hole should we fill? The arts and entertainment void? The community calendar void?
There are many questions to consider. Thankfully, as we answer them we will have one consideration in mind -- what is best for the community. The community includes those who are doing the work and the readers. If you would like to have input -- you are welcome to attend the next meeting of the Public i.
Thursday, Jan 9, 2003 (and each week thereafter)
5:30- 6:30pm
IMC, 218 W. Main Street, Urbana (where Main and Springfield split) |
Related stories on this site:
Alternative Weekly Shut Down
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Re: Memories Of The Octopus And How To Fill The Void |
by Woo Joo
dwabui (nospam) aol.com (unverified) |
Current rating: 2
09 Jan 2003
|
It's interesting if you read the News-Gazette article, the person chiefly responsible for advertising revenue, Kathy Schuren, Sales Manager, who was hired on by Saga to generate advertising profits, is the only one to retain her job. While integral, communicty-based staff members such as Mike Knezovich (senior editor), Holly Rushakoff (Graphic designer, writer "Community Portrait, Doug Hoepker (local music editor) lost their jobs, Kathy Schuren was able to retain her position and be absorbed into the corporate structure of the Illini Radio Group. If ad sales were the reason that the Cityview failed, why would you retain the person who couldn't do the job.
To the Cityview staff, from one of your former comrades, you guys did a great Jooooorb! The community will miss you. |
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Re: Memories Of The Octopus And How To Fill The Void |
by John Wilson
jkwilso2 (nospam) ilstu.edu (unverified) |
Current rating: 3
11 Jan 2003
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I'd strongly encourage the Public i to become a weekly paper to replace CU Cityview. The cost is relatively modest, and the public i now has the opportunity to establish a nonprofit as the city's main alternative newspaper.
The Indy in Normal would be happy to help out in any way we can. indy.pabn.org |
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Money Needed To Fill The Viod |
by RDR
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 3
18 Jan 2003
Modified: 04:40:27 PM |
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I agree that we need a non-profit paper. But a non-profit paper still needs money. (And the Public I going weekly would quadruple its costs) But at the risk of sounding like a WILL pledge drive ;) the bottom-line is that the Public I and all of the U-C IMC relies on you to keep it going. So consder contributing to the Public I and the U-C IMC. Only with your help can we continue and grow! |
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Money Needed To Fill The Viod |
by RDR
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
18 Jan 2003
Modified: 04:48:31 PM |
|
I agree that we need a non-profit paper. But a non-profit paper still needs money. (And the Public I going weekly would quadruple its costs) But at the risk of sounding like a WILL pledge drive ;) the bottom-line is that the Public I and all of the U-C IMC relies on you to keep it going. So consder contributing to the Public I and the U-C IMC. Only with your help can we continue and grow! |
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Re: Memories Of The Octopus And How To Fill The Void |
by GP
MdWestDude (nospam) aol.com (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
18 Jan 2003
Modified: 09:58:59 PM |
I'd absolutely love something to pick up the Arts & Entertainment void. I really depended on C-U/Octopus for that. I live a fair distance from C-U but have always made an effort to pick up a copy when in town, simply to see what was happening in the area. Enjoyed much of the material presented in that paper.
I understand some ideals behind the concept of a non-profit paper, but I'd prefer to see somebody go the other route. I feel it's better for the longevity of the paper.
Also, I would have gladly subscribed to the Octopus via mail, would have paid whatever they required for such.
In the same fashion, who would not have paid 25 cents for a machine-dispensed copy? Small amounts like that can help pay the bills, on top of advertising revenue.
I tend to like the "for profit" aspect merely because it allows some money to rest in an account somewhere in the case major expenses come about, as well to insure and retain employees of substantial quality. By no means am I putting down volunteers who do wonderful work when I suggest such, but only that volunteers often burn-out or move to other interests. I know this from my own volunterism.
I wish everyone well, regardless of the profit/non-profit issue, and really hope to see something take the place of the Octopus.
-GP
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