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Chicagoans,
As publisher of The Chicago LifeStyle magazine, I sought to develop a news medium that honored the journalistic integrity that was independent in voice and served as a platform to express ideas and concerns of our generations and those of future generations. In doing so, somewhere along the way we strayed as an organization from our fundamental principle that people, our readers, matter most. We lost sight in the many superficialities of our current, fatally flawed culture. For this, I sincerely apologize to my friends, family, associates and clients for our misguided indiscretions.
The Chicago LifeStyle is not a "teeny-bopper, bubble gum pop" publication that clutters the corners in front of every Starbucks. Unfortunately, by saying so with the unwillingness to resort to producing just another photo book with redundant sexiness, leaves us with an unparallel disposition without the lifeline of any publication, the advertiser.
But here at CLS, we firmly believe the daunting days of corporations dictating every facet of our lives must end. No longer can we determine the truth when it is said with the almighty dollar behind every word. Mr. Dollar Bill has influenced everything we read, watch on TV and hear on the radio, in one way/form or another.
Lobbyist and political action committees buy most of our politicians before they even enter office. Add that to the willingness to do and say anything to get re-elected, and you have produced a governing body that no longer leads. In many ways, we are now a society with no leaders, rather a community of compromised values and a complete disregard for the overall good.
Please do not take this the wrong way. AEM and CLS are profit-driven companies that will always search for new avenues to ensure success, but unfortunately we have a conscience. I, personally, do not feel it appropriate to take a dollar from someone else, compromising our beliefs just to have an extra buck in our pocket. So many of the past generations have been afflicted with this very temptation; I even witness this today amongst my peers. Currently, there are record profits for our country's top corporations, but the lowest 20 percent of the U.S. wealth distribution is losing money. Inflation and national debt has created an uncertain and bloated economy.
Our unwillingness to compromise has shut many doors for us as a publication within the last year. And, for a while, I felt as though all possibilities had been lost forever. When, after all the struggles and personal loss, it finally dawned on me that you - our audience, our readers - is the only person who need open the door and make it available for honest, poignant information transmission.
I sincerely apologize for all the delays and would like to thank all of our readers for their everlasting support. I can honestly say that today we are changing as a publication. We will be going through several transformations in the near future. Trimming the unnecessary and bulking-up the essential, our Web site will be completely revamped to include picture sharing, free classifieds, free apartment listings and more. We are committed to expressing your ideas and producing historical, educational and meaningful editorials at the local, national and world perspective.
This publication is about you, so please help us cultivate our news vehicle by pitching story ideas, giving suggestions and making us aware of what you experience as you live in today's reality. Tell us when we are wrong and share your view.
When was the last time you heard that from your corporate news medium?
Regards,
Haven K. Allen
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