ILLUSTRATION BY JOEL KIMMEL
It’s an interesting time for journalism in the U.S. The new president prefers Twitter to the traditional press corps, many Americans rely on Facebook for their news, and newspapers continue to grapple with declining circulations.
So where does this leave city magazines? It’s a good question, one a group of college students recently posed while visiting our offices. As they gathered around a conference room table, rifling through a stack of back issues, they were surprised to find in-depth articles on weighty matters—crime, politics, healthcare—beside stories on the arts, style, and dining. How could an investigative feature on tax abatement run alongside a guide to the region’s top clothing boutiques? Why put an in-depth profile of Eric Greitens in the same issue as a “Summer Fun Guide”? Can an issue highlighting City Museum and the city’s best happy hours really contain stories about officer-involved shootings and the ethical implications of robotics?
Well, yeah, I replied. As a city magazine, we try to reflect the metro region in all its complexity. Sometimes, that means highlighting the positive: new restaurants, affordable attractions, blossoming neighborhoods… Other times, it means examining more complex issues, such as race relations and economic development.
This issue’s no exception. Staff writer Jeannette Cooperman spent months digging into the strange tale of Pam Hupp, a case with more twists and turns than a James Patterson novel. It’s a story that has attracted national attention, with Dateline NBC devoting more coverage to the case than to any other except those of O.J. Simpson and JonBenét Ramsey.
At the same time, you’ll find lighter-hearted articles, including this month’s pet guide. While filming an episode in St. Louis, dog guru Cesar Millan was kind enough to stop by our offices with his four-legged friends and share some advice. We also highlight pet-friendly places and programs, trendy toys, and familiar faces from local shops.
Then there are those stories that fall somewhere in between: a conversation with the symphony’s music director and the ACLU’s director, a critic’s take on a South City restaurant and a critical look at a South Side Starbucks, a guide to choosing lingerie for your lover and a history lesson about Lover’s Leap.
For a city magazine, it’s all part of the mix.
