Lee Abrams' July 28 blog post

THINK PIECE: THE TIME IS NOW—IDEAS, THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS.

Things are in full motion for "re-launches" of our newspapers. As we get closer, things go under the microscope a little more and there are some thoughts and ideas worth sharing.

The most important overall though is probably that a re-launch isn't the end all. It's just the gutsy plunge/first step into the new century. The idea is to take the plunge, then go into a modern competitive mode to reclaim our ground by continually re-thinking, upgrading and getting into the fight on a daily basis in a way that marshals' together all of the things we do best and takes them to the streets in ways like never before. It's fascinating to see the outside pundits barking that we are "destroying great newspapers". Equally fascinating is how outsiders historically claimed imminent destruction of any institutions that forced change. Certainly saw it in TV as "CNN was destroying television news" or 'Jet Air Travel was destroying the inter city travel experience'. I never got the whole 'destroying' thing. If anyone destroys a product that is of value to the public, then someone should create something in its place...instead of whining about it. But then again, if something supposedly destroyed, grows to new levels of popularity, where does this 'destroy' thing come in?? And of course, here at Tribune, the idea is to re-invent some things that are on life support, or at least the writing is on the wall, so there's a FUTURE. A big one that engages America with the same intellect and passion that newspaper did 50 years ago...but on 2008 terms. The only thing we aim to destroy is the notion that you can't evolve, grow and succeed.

Interesting how as "dramatic" as some think our changes are, the Brits are highly suspicious, figuring we don't have the moxie to REALLY do something different. Here's a blog from the UK Guardian about the Chicago Tribune re-invent:

The Chicago Tribune is about to change. According to this report by Crain's, the staid broadsheet is testing out a four-section prototype. The first will be devoted to "consumer-oriented and entertainment features." Local, national, international and business news will appear in the second. Weather will lead off the third, which will include comics and classifieds. The fourth will be a tabloid sports section. It's uncertain whether these "dramatic changes" will emerge in practice.

But Juan Antonio Giner scoffs at the notion that such changes are dramatic. He writes: "What the Chicago Tribune is going to test has been done for decades by many European newspapers. The big difference is that they don't need sections, because they know that readers want 'compact' newspapers. And then you won't need this model that still exists in US newspapers, where sections put content into 'ghettos.'"

On the topic of the Chicago Tribune, the re-invent is in motion. A big part of it is to make sure the paper is in sync with 2008 Chicago.
A quote from Mike Royko to remind us when we get too elite:

"Chicago is not an articulate town, Saul Bellow notwithstanding. Maybe it's because so many of us aren't that far removed from parents and grandparents who only knew nits of the language". Royko '79

...Chicago is Metra, Cubs, Bears, Bulls, Hot Dogs, O'Hare, City with Big Shoulders and a South side team with a Jewish Owner, A Black GM, A Hispanic Manager and a Polish catcher….AND WTTW, University of Chicago, Charlie Trotter and amazing architecture. I think we gotta have the REAL 2008 Chicago...good, bad and ugly in mind as we move forward. A true melting pot. An exciting past, and exciting future and an exciting NOW.

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SOURCE: Jim Romenesko