Sorry for the dearth of posts lately, but I’ve been adjusting to my new schedule working as a part-time consultant for the county clerk. 
The folks at the Beacon-News, Courier-News, and Naperville Sun got word today that the Sun-Times is closing their Aurora office. With only the reporters excepted, the only way those hard-working folks will keep their jobs is if they’re willing to make that daily train to downtown Chicago.
And from out here, that’s a three hour commute.
Considering some of their more interesting business decisions, my best guess is this contraction is their way of culling the herd – so to speak. They’re counting on the fact that some of the staff will choose to move on instead. The Sun-Times is moving to a Net first philosophy and they harbor this strange notion that all four papers can share the same content.
But the truth is, what gets a Second City reader’s motor going, doesn’t necessarily sell in Elgin.
My fear is this is just the first step in shutting those suburban papers down. And that really would be a loss.
