Chicago Tribune – RedEye Chicago

The Red Eye’s OK. It’s not a bad newspaper. The best thing about it is that it’s free.

The Chicago RedEye is terrible. One of their writers PLAGIARISED one of my tweets.
Here is the evidence:
July 9, 2012, I tweeted: @thegratefulone now a hipster is anyone who has interest in any form of independent art and doesnt shop at the gap.
Three days later the RedEye posted this article on hipsters that clearly copied my tweet:
These days, the term «hipster» has been watered-​down to include anyone who doesn’t shop at the GAP.

Decent free magazine that you can find just about anywhere in Chicago. It covers music, movies and such. There are reviews for restaurants, new music and movies as well. It definitely seems to want to draw in the urban hipsters but seems to be a bit stale in doing a solid job of it. The hipsters probably read something else anyway since pretty much everyone knows that the Chicago Tribune also puts out this little magazine.
I noticed Redeye also put out a movie newspaper which was also free. It covered new releases but overall that newspaper was pretty much just full of ads with just a small movie section.
Not my first choice on magazines but it is free so what the hell, I pick it up anyway.

Dear RedEye,
I appreciate someone finally getting back to me after I wrote more than once about not having received the Saturday edition after two months of signing up. You now deserve a star upgrade for making me all too happy on my Saturday mornings. So far, it has been a consistant two weeks with the delivery, and hopefully it will continue to last. My day becomes jolted when I do not have your crossword puzzle in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.
Sincerely a RedEye fan,
Me

So it appears that using a not very nice two word phrase to sum up my contempt for this certain paper is not acceptable under Unilocal guidelines? It was cool for the first eight months or so it was posted but ok fine, somebody had a problem with it. I feel it was a perfectly frank and succinct way of showing my complete and utter disdain for this «newspaper» but apparently it caused offense to somebody and was removed. Value for money/​time is apparently not a concept this flagger was familiar with. This is all kinds of ironic given their dedication to flagging a SHORT review of the Red Eye, am I right?
Fine, give me a minute to climb up onto my high horse then I’ll continue.
I have read the Red Eye when I’m beyond bored on my commute to work and someone left their copy on the seat next to me. However I also went to college where I did my fair share of journalism studies. That is why the original «Fuck you» review went up. I thought it was funny as well as a sort of masked (maybe this was something that only came out in my head) comment on their standards and content.
Bullshit publications like the Red Eye are a huge reason why traditional newspapers, the Fourth Estate if you will, are dying out. Hell Ann Arbor, MI doesn’t even have a daily newspaper any more and there are reports that Philadelphia might be next! People do not feel the need to «shell out» fifty or seventy five cents for a longer, more in depth and actually researched version of the news when this publication exists for free in the box next to it. Why would they, this version has the totally kick ass bar specials, pages of celebrity news, written portrait (as opposed to cable news talking head) panels on local sports issues, giant pictures, a crossword and twenty five word write ups on national/​international events! Everything an informed citizen needs!
Remember when the Trib used to have the stones to charge twenty five cents for this? I doubt it; nobody read it then because they realized this tripe wasn’t worth a full quarter. God/​Allah/​Jah/​Buddah/​whatever save whoever made the decision to make it free and spread this journalistic plague across our city. Hope you guys are happy.
Reference for the Ann Arbor mention —
Philadelphia —
Just to be a prick I’ll conclude with the original text… fuck you. Now if you’ll excuse me it’s time to ride off into the sunset.

maybe i’m feeling bitchy tonight by handing out two 1 star reviews in a row, but whatever.
My issues with the Red Eye are numerous. I can’t stand having them shoved at me every time I walk into the El station every morning. The lady distributing them has begun to ignore me because I suppose she recognizes me and knows she’ll just get an icy shoulder.
Also, do people on the El really not have anything else to do but read this vapid piece of ‘writing’? I abhor mainstream novels, but even a Danielle Steel novel would be better then this! When I see these periodicals tucked under the arms of half of my fellow riders, I don’t see individuals abreast of their city’s day to day pulse — I see sheep.
fucking sheep…

OK. I can appreciate that the RedEye isn’t for everyone, and that’s fine. What I do not appreciate are the reviewers denigrating RedEye readers, assuming we’re all some kind of drooling, semi-​literate morons. You do know it is possible to read both the RedEye and books, right? They are not mutually exclusive. I can be seen with a RedEye in hand during my morning commute most days, even reading it if there’s room. And believe it or not, I also read books. If I can get a seat during my evening commute, you’ll see me with my nose in a book. Wonders never cease!
The RedEye is what it is. It’s a free paper. It has condensed stories on the most important news items of the day. Yes, condensed. If there is something that sparks my interest I’ll go online when I get to work and get the details from CNN, NYT, or the Trib.
The RedEye has information on local events, restaurants, and bars. There is also a little pop culture section at the back, and I confess I usually peruse that. It’s about the only place I get my celebrity gossip, unlike some of my friends who spend all day clicking Refresh at
or
. I don’t think there is any reason to feel guilty for taking 5 minutes or less of your day (when you’re stuck on a bus or train anyway) to get caught up on the world of entertainment.
I think the RedEye has gone a bit downhill lately, though. It seems like there are more ads and less actual content. And while I used to like «Going Public» and «Hey CTA!» it seems that Kyra Kyles has simply run out of things to write about (understandable) and the public has grown tired of griping about the CTA, knowing it won’t do any good. I also miss Leo’s Nine Lines.

Several hundred days ago when I was still a journalism undergrad downtown, our Broadcast Journalism professor summed up the Red Eye nicely: «Red Eye? Don’t get me started on that fluff.»
My blood pressure rises when one comes into my line of sight.
If you like being informed of places, people and events between Irving Park rd, Roosevelt rd, Western ave and Lake Michigan, Red Eye has the scoop on everything, including the best bars in Lincoln Park and where to see B-​List celebs at nightclubs you probably wouldn’t go to.
Part of me thinks I should be happy my generation and others are picking up some type of literary material. Although I’m no literary snob (I fall asleep reading most books nowadays, so I can’t finish anything), I think the Red Eye is not worth its price, and what contents it does have can’t be justified with real news options.
Then again, its owner Chicago Tribune has seemed to have morphed into a much larger version. Anyone read the «Live!» section of that lately?

Finally, a newspaper without all of that boring news!
Perfect for those who still have full use of their frontal lobe, but choose not to do anything with it!
What’s that? Jamie Foxx took a dump in Japonais’ bathroom? Liz Crokin is all over it!
Why is the CTA so darned slow? Kyra Kyles has the scoop! Read ‘em the Riot Act, Kyra!
Regular crossword puzzles got you down? Complete a RedEye puzzle and finally feel good about yourself!
Sure, it’s free. But somehow I manage to feel ripped off every time I pick one of these up.

When I first moved to Chicago I couldn’t figure how to get my hands on a copy of a Red Eye. Maybe I just wasn’t trying hard enough, because I made a mission of it this last week and it wasn’t too hard.
I don’t understand what all the fuss is about. It’s free and it reads like a free paper. No biggie. I understand why people read it. I, for one, am not always in the mood to read a literary masterpiece on my 7am bus ride to work. I’ve seen people read much more embarrassing things (i.e. a strange red-​haired girl disgustingly engrossed in that «Twilight» book. It may have been me).
The meanie that said, «whenever I spy someone reading this on the El, I figure they’re a) too lazy to get a book and b) a moron» is just that — a meanie. Let people read what they want to read. Don’t be so judgmental. It’s unbecoming.

I have a like/​dislike relationship with this periodical. I want to make it clear that I truly appreciate the journalists (for the most part) for sharing a piece of their life with me. Most of the time one of y’all manages to get a smile out of me, if not a laugh, first thing in the morning. Even Liz Cronkin, who… I just can’t believe is getting paid for what she does. Which is… I’m not sure what she does.
That guy Leo Ebersole got me through some miserable months on the way to work, and I don’t even really watch sports.
Sometimes there are interesting events or food/​drink stuffs info. Or info on good sales around town. So why 1 star? The Chicago’s Most Beautiful Cat contest, which I believe was rigged. Miss Pussy Galore is way more beautiful than the cats chosen as finalists, and if Red Eye wants any more than one star from me, I demand a rematch.

Okay, I admit it, I am a fan of the RED EYE (ducks in case someone throws something). For free, I do not expect a whole heck of alot – so this is just perfect for a quick read. Mind you, it is a really quick read. Things I appreciate about it:
Highlights local eateries – great way to make me spend a buck
Music section – good to know what is happening.
Pop everything – not sure that is necessary.
And last but not least – CROSSWORD! I am a crossword junkie.

I have to say I really hate the new look of RedEye that debuted this week, so I’m deducting a star off my original review.
The old look was perfectly fine to me, so why did they need to redesign it? *ugh*

Reduce, reuse, recycle
I don’t subscribe to guilt, but I also don’t subscribe to newspapers or pick up free papers on a daily basis. I prefer to read those publications online as much as possible.
I AM happy that RedEye is free and that it out-​lasted the evil copy cat RedStreak, but I think there should be more emphasis on encouraging readers to check out their publications online. I think their advertisers might have more response from online readers too, as opposed to relying on readers to remember to contact them after they’ve [hopefully] recycled their paper.
Now it’s confession time: I get the weekend edition of RedEye delivered to my front door. Talk about a pile of paper! The paper is stuffed with coupons, vendor advertisers and [believe it or not] PARADE magazine! I was thisclose to canceling the free subscription to the once-​a-​week RedEye which does not post online … but last weekend’s feature on bacon prevented me from canceling and prompted me to make a BLT.

I’m a big Red Eye defender for many reasons, none of which include the phrase editorial excellence or respectible journalism.
First thing that drives me to grab a RedEye is that it is free. It’s easier for me to grab a free publication than to dig around for 50 cents I usually don’t have. The Red Eye also runs all the same major stories that the tribune covers, their simply in a short condensed version, which is really all I need to stay on top of public affairs and world topics. The cover stories are usually what get me, because they are usually obscure random new findings or studies that are rather interesting much like the featured stories on Yahoo and MSN. (Can’t get enough!)
I’m a sucker for gossip, I don’t feel there is any reason to snub the entertainment section, It doesn’t make you any less smart or intelligent because you want a little humor in your life. There’s nothing like a bit of unneccesary hollywood drama to make me appreciate my own lacking of it.
The Red Eye… it’s quick it’s easy, its readable, from cover to cover, (I personally think that’s a good thing.)
Enjoy it!

Yay! The first newspaper for illiterates! Do you like one paragraph synopsis of incredibly complicated world issues, and then WHOLE PAGES devoted to idiotic celebrity gossip or useless sports nonsense — then the RedEye is the paper for you.
Every time I see someone reading this rag, I think «You’re not too bright, are ya?»
Shame on you, Tribune for printing instant litter.

I love the Red Eye — when I get to read it. Unfortunately — where I live, they’re as rare as mythological creatures of old.
I wrote the following letter to their circulation department:
«The Ellusive Morning Red Eye»
So nice to see the week end the same way it began. No RedEye in the Box at the Red-​headed Step-​child of stops — Morse.
Of course, going south from Howard, we’re the 2^nd stop… Annoyingly, People ALREADY on the train — have their copy — happily reading away…*glower*. but, I digress — it’s not THEIR fault … I’m jealous and will readily admit to it.
This morning, however, I was in luck. While there was no paper in the box, someone had left one behind, on one of the seats on the train. I had my prize! I could read away on my morning commute after all! *Yoink*!
At the Morse stop, the Red Eye is as common as the Unicorn; and seen just as frequently.
I subscribed to the Saturday Red Eye (the home-​delivery only issue) all the way back in the first week of April — I’ve yet to recieve my Saturday issue of the Red Eye — ever… it’s been 7 weeks now — this week, will make it 8 weeks since subscribing.
While I remain hopeful — I’m pretty sure the Saturday sighting of the «unicorn» will only be fantasy… I’ll still be waiting … hopeful, but more jaded as each week passes. I know it exists… I’ve never seen one… so, now, I’m skeptical of their existance.
I’m a kid at heart… please — PLEASE … can I get my subscription — some day? (hopefully this weekend)?

I’ll give them one star because Unilocal makes me do it.
I can’t really comment on it’s content, because I don’t have the time to read it. My gripe, because I get the Tribune delivered at home, they also drop off the Red Eye.
I barely have time for the Tribune. I didn’t subscribe to the Red Eye. I have called the Tribune, and told them not to drop it off anymore. They said, they’d stop. Well no, such luck. In my Christmas tip envelope I put a nice note in the envelope, no Red Eye, please. Again, no luck.
Emailed the Tribune, no luck, called and emailed again, no luck! Shoot me now, I’m so tried of picking these up off my porch and having to dump them.
I sent another email, waiting to see what happens, it’s too soon to tell, because each time they stop for a few issues and start again.
They seem to have a chronic case of Alzheimer’s. How is it that an institution that uses the written word, can’t understand emails?
What a waste of paper, and resources to bring this to my house and resources when it gets thrown away. And yes, even recycling takes up resources.
Hey Red Eye, take a hint deliver to those people that request it, these darn papers are littering the street on my block. Thanks for the trash!

Anyone remember the war between the Red Eye and Red Streak? Newsweek even did a piece about the differences between the two reads. I remember the debut of the RedEye and thought it was a pretty cool concept: a condensed version of the news. At the time of the debut, the Red Eye came in handy because the horribly slow free internet access from Loyola University Chicago to an apartment off campus. I survived off a sad, free dial up connection for so long and a catchy newspaper sure helped sum up the gossip and news of the day.
After Red Eye won out on the condensed newspaper war in Chicago and I got DSL, I read it occasionally thereafter. Afterwhile, it began to feel like the US Weekly or OK! of newspapers. The gossip is at least a day old if you follow the gossip blogs. The news portion is mainly AP reports and nothing I hadn’t heard before through online newspapers and the newsstations. Even it’s biggest feature is just okay that is the main stories. The flashy cover draws you in, but then you read and it’s lame. For being the cover story, they aren’t that full of information or that interesting. I used to read the columns often, but they got boring, redundant, and even a little whiny afterwhile. For me, the best feature is the Metromix section. It provides an extensive list of activities going on in the city and drink specials.
I guess that I’ve outgrown the Red Eye a bit because it doesn’t do much for me these days. Since it’s free, it’s good to use as packing material.

100% recycled content. If you read last week’s Us Magazine and glance at newspaper stand titles occasionally, you’ve already heard or read everything by the time they print it and get it in your hands.
People wonder why newspaper readership is tanking. Publishers have no credibility other than the fact that they’ve somehow survived for decades. And they treat readers like idiots. If RedEye showed some respect and didn’t have dumb titles for things like «What happened while you were sleeping» I at least might not be offended by the sight of it.
But they’re not going to create more fans of the paper by handing them completely disposable fodder they have already gotten somewhere else. Even if every weekday newspaper box is empty by the crack of dawn, every garbage can downtown is full before 9am.