Last Thursday, November 2nd was a sad day for me (and for many other readers). When I first heard DNA info had shut down, I didn’t understand what it meant. I thought maybe there were technical problems with the website or improvements were being made. Instead, sadly, I learned it was discontinued.
DNA info was started in 2009 and reported on Chicago neighborhood news in a way that had never been done before. The journalists/reporters at DNA info were on the scene in the neighborhoods they reported on. They were immersed in the pulse of the neighborhoods. It included detailed reporting on issues we would never hear about otherwise.
What primarily drew me to DNA info when I became a subscriber in 2015, was their reporting on Chicago crime and how to try to solve the crime problem in Chicago. I loved reading the posts and posting on the DNA info blogs. It was my first experience with blogging and it was very positive!
I subscribed to every neighborhood’s feed, because even though I grew up in the Avondale neighborhood, I love reading and learning about all the Chicago neighborhoods. I learned so much about Chicago policies regarding crime and education, but also about Chicago architecture, restaurants, events and history.
I liked it that it was very current information, since most neighborhood feeds came out three times a day (morning, Noon and early evening). My favorite feed was the morning feed at 9:20 a.m. I made sure I accessed my email at 9:20 every morning to see the latest Chicago neighborhood news!
The CEO of DNA info said it was taken down because of financial reasons. I think not enough advertising dollars were brought in and they said reporters for Gothamist (which is the NY City version of DNA info) were going to unionize, thereby raising operating costs.
My only hope is that DNA info is somehow able to make a comeback financially or that another similar media organization can deliver the same quality neighborhood reporting. In the interim I’m using Twitter more than ever to try to gain some of the Chicago neighborhood information and close the void left by the closure of DNA info.
So, Thank You DNA info staff for all I’ve learned about Chicago and it’s neighborhoods in the last two years. I really appreciate it!