Alternative Media Showcase: Louisville Eccentric Observer
Thursday, March 20th, 2008My recent trip to Louisville, Kentucky gave me a chance to check out the city’s alternative newspaper. The Louisville Eccentric Observer (LEO) was far down on the list of things I took away from the trip but it was a pleasant surprise on the long drive back to Milwaukee. The pages of LEO were filled with well-written articles on local politics that were devoid of the partisan slant of other alternative newspapers.
LEO’s cover story on March 12 dealt with the proliferation of pharmaceuticals in Louisville’s water supply. This story has been a foot note in many newspapers and TV broadcasts over the last few weeks as people realize (gasp) that our drinking water is filled with junk. The newspaper went beyond a simple cover story on polluted water with pieces on the threat of atrazine pollution throughout Kentucky and an interview with film maker Irena Salina (”For Love of Water”). The reason that LEO trumps other alternative newspapers like my hometown Shepherd Express is the in-depth reporting on a single topic.
The writers and editors of LEO don’t appear to shut down the magazine once the cover story is written. Features like Representin’ (about the Louisville Metro Council), City Strobe (about local politics) and interesting guest commentaries make the publication a solid replacement for the Courier-Journal. I will continue to critique alternative newspapers in upcoming weeks as I take road trips during the summer travel season. In the meantime, check out the Louisville Eccentric Observer website here.


