Tagged: media

Years ago, media critics roamed the Earth. Even mid-sized markets could support one or two columnists who analyzed how newspapers and TV and radio stations covered the news of the day, and how that coverage affected the community's understanding and perception of those stories. But in cities like Louisville, media criticism has gone the way of afternoon papers and Saturday mail.

Looking for the latest edition of ESPN Magazine, Esquire or Elle? How about Knit Magazine or Bloomberg Business Week? Well, if you're a Louisville Free Public Library member, look no further.

After five years in Louisville, city government reporter Dan Klepal is leaving the Courier-Journal.

Klepal has accepted a job with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 

"I'll be covering Gwinnett County government," he says. "It's a suburban county just north of Atlanta that has upwards of 800,000 residents, provides city-like services and has close to a $1 billion budget."

Klepal is the paper's main city government reporter, and was most notable for his recent coverage of Metro Councilwoman Barbara Shanklin's alleged misuse of city discretionary funds. It was Klepa's work that was cited in an ethics complaint against Shanklin. 

The subsequent trial before the city Ethics Commission was earlier this month, and a verdict is expected in March, though Klepal will be three months into his new job at that time.

The Huffington Post asks Kentucky readers to submit local photos this week: 

Foreclosure filings are up more than 10 percent in Jefferson County, Ky., from this time last year. And there are so many abandoned houses in Louisville that the state's attorney general recently earmarked more than $3 million to deal with the glut of vacant property.