@cjsummers Billy Dennis could answer that he has tried several attempts at digital.

Had the council not agreed on 11 addendums on Phase II (building a 4 story office building on the platform), the city could have taken back the platform long ago. The last addendum voted on 10/15/15 extending Phase II to 12/31/17.

@cjsummers You would need a decent sized bankroll behind you. I think there is a chance something like that could work, but every digital competitor has had some really big flaws thus far. And most of them were money related.

@cjsummers :I don't know how much it would take to make a digital paper profitable (how many staff members and how would you pay them? By the story? By the hour?) But the pjstar.com page has pop-ups AND multiple ads per page AND charges a monthly fee so if the new paper can do all that but cut out the physical paper costs, I would think that would be doable.

I know both active and retired investigative reporters. One of the problems is that when a reporter starts digging they often times have to dig deeper and deeper before it is all tied together. That takes time and more time plus more money.
Another key component is developing trust with sources. Most people will not talk immediately so building trust takes more time. That is one thing that has had an impact on developing younger investigative reporters. They want instant results and the awards for investigative reporting.
I am personally aware of a situation where the younger investigative reporter quit for that reason, So the paper hired back
a retired reporter to keep the research going.
There also has to be total trust between an editor and an investigative reporter. Too often thst is lacking in today's medias world.

Removed By Request

Removed By Request

@cjsummers We live in era of 30 second sound bite and 140 character statements. I think government prefers this they get away with a lot more since folks don't get all the facts. just like the line about the house on frye. They forgot to mention it was the city that issued the demo permit not like they just showed up and started demo. The council needs to get called on the rug but like what was said there is NO backbone in the good ole boy reporting club just rehashed press releases.

@EyeintheSky
In Peoria there's the added issue of the police kicking in doors of people who offended an elected official. That was approved by the chief of police and a judge. That right there would stop anyone in their tracks from reporting anything controversial about elect d officials.

@billybob I think ACLU dropped the ball BIG time on that should have went to court and got this ALL dragged kicking and screaming into the light. Then perhaps some city hall folks would be out of job and the rest would shape up.

@EyeintheSky
I think the guy was truly broke and needed money ASAP.from time to time that happens in some cases.