Louisville Eccentric Observer
Encyclopedia
The Louisville Eccentric Observer (also called LEO Weekly but widely known as just LEO) is a free weekly newspaper (urban alternative weekly
), distributed every Wednesday in over 800 locations throughout the Louisville, Kentucky
area, including areas of southern Indiana
. The newspaper was founded in 1990 by John Yarmuth
, Robert Schulman, Denny Crum
(then the coach of the University of Louisville
men's basketball team
), and two other investors. LEO claims a readership of 153,000.
The paper was initially devoted to opinion and commentary, with columns by Crum, Schulman, Yarmuth and former Louisville Courier-Journal
writers Mary Cauldwell, and Dudley Saunders. The first issue was distributed in July 1990, began bi-weekly publication on November 1 of that year, and regular weekly publication in April 1993. A free paper, it has always been wholly supported by advertising
revenue. Following its conversion to a weekly format in 1993, LEO began publishing a more diverse variety of news and reviews.
The paper carries various nationally syndicated columns and features such as Real Astrology, News of the Weird
and The New York Times crossword puzzle
. However, the reviews of music, restaurants, theatre, movies and books, as well as local and sports news, are all written by local writers. In the past, it featured popular columns by national writers Molly Ivins
and Dave Barry
.
Since 1992, LEO has published Literary LEO, an annual issue dedicated to locally produced literature, poetry and more recently photography.
LEO has been a member of the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies
since 1995. In 2003 it was sold to a company owned by Times Publishing Co. of Pennsylvania, owner of the Erie Times-News
. Yarmuth remained on-board as a columnist and consultant until January 2006, when he declared himself a Democratic
candidate for the Kentucky 3rd congressional district
race and his column was put on indefinite hold. Yarmuth won the primary and defeated incumbent Republican
Rep. Anne Northup
, an occasional target of his columns.
In 2008 SouthComm Communications of Nashville, Tennessee bought LEO.
As of February 2009, the magazine has undergone a style change. The biggest changes of note have been introducing a new logo and using magazine paper as opposed to news paper.
Alternative weekly
An alternative newspaper is a type of newspaper, that eschews comprehensive coverage of general news in favor of stylized reporting, opinionated reviews and columns, investigations into edgy topics and magazine-style feature stories highlighting local people and culture. Their news coverage is more...
), distributed every Wednesday in over 800 locations throughout the Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
area, including areas of southern Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. The newspaper was founded in 1990 by John Yarmuth
John Yarmuth
John Yarmuth is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party.- Early life, education and career :...
, Robert Schulman, Denny Crum
Denny Crum
Denzil E. "Denny" Crum is a former American men's college basketball coach at the University of Louisville from 1971 to 2001, compiling a 675–295 record. He guided the Cardinals to two NCAA championships and six Final Fours...
(then the coach of the University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
men's basketball team
Louisville Cardinals men's basketball
The Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team is the 18th winningest college basketball team in NCAA Division I history and has the 10th best winning percentage in college basketball history. Currently coached by Rick Pitino, the Cardinals of the University of Louisville have been to 37 NCAA...
), and two other investors. LEO claims a readership of 153,000.
The paper was initially devoted to opinion and commentary, with columns by Crum, Schulman, Yarmuth and former Louisville Courier-Journal
The Courier-Journal
The Courier-Journal, locally called "The C-J", is the main newspaper for the city of Louisville, Kentucky, USA. According to the 1999 Editor & Publisher International Yearbook, the paper is the 48th largest daily paper in the United States and the single largest in Kentucky.- Origins :The...
writers Mary Cauldwell, and Dudley Saunders. The first issue was distributed in July 1990, began bi-weekly publication on November 1 of that year, and regular weekly publication in April 1993. A free paper, it has always been wholly supported by advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
revenue. Following its conversion to a weekly format in 1993, LEO began publishing a more diverse variety of news and reviews.
The paper carries various nationally syndicated columns and features such as Real Astrology, News of the Weird
News of the Weird
News of the Weird is a syndicated newspaper column edited by Chuck Shepherd that collects bizarre news stories. It was created in 1988. , it is syndicated by Universal Press Syndicate and published in more than 250 newspapers in the United States and Canada. As of July 2008, the daily internet...
and The New York Times crossword puzzle
The New York Times crossword puzzle
The New York Times crossword puzzle is a daily puzzle found in The New York Times and online at the paper's website. It is also syndicated to more than 300 other newspapers and journals. The puzzle is created by various freelance constructors and is edited by Will Shortz...
. However, the reviews of music, restaurants, theatre, movies and books, as well as local and sports news, are all written by local writers. In the past, it featured popular columns by national writers Molly Ivins
Molly Ivins
Mary Tyler "Molly" Ivins was an American newspaper columnist, populist, political commentator, humorist and author.-Early life and education:Ivins was born in Monterey, California, and raised in Houston, Texas...
and Dave Barry
Dave Barry
David "Dave" Barry is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American author and columnist, who wrote a nationally syndicated humor column for The Miami Herald from 1983 to 2005. He has also written numerous books of humor and parody, as well as comedic novels.-Biography:Barry was born in Armonk, New York,...
.
Since 1992, LEO has published Literary LEO, an annual issue dedicated to locally produced literature, poetry and more recently photography.
LEO has been a member of the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies
Association of Alternative Newsweeklies
The Association of Alternative Newsmedia is a diverse group of covering every major metropolitan area and other less-populated regions of North America. AAN members have a combined weekly circulation of over 6.5 million as well as a print readership of nearly 17 million active, educated and...
since 1995. In 2003 it was sold to a company owned by Times Publishing Co. of Pennsylvania, owner of the Erie Times-News
Erie Times-News
The Erie Times-News is a daily morning newspaper in Erie, Pennsylvania. It has a daily circulation of about 56,124 and a Sunday circulation of about 75,680...
. Yarmuth remained on-board as a columnist and consultant until January 2006, when he declared himself a Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
candidate for the Kentucky 3rd congressional district
Kentucky's 3rd congressional district
Kentucky's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Kentucky encompassing nearly the whole city of Louisville, which, since the merger of 2003, is contiguous with Jefferson County...
race and his column was put on indefinite hold. Yarmuth won the primary and defeated incumbent Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Rep. Anne Northup
Anne Northup
Anne Meagher Northup is an American Republican politician from the state of Kentucky. From 1997 to 2007, she represented the Louisville-centered 3rd congressional district of Kentucky in the United States House of Representatives, where she served on the powerful House Appropriations Committee...
, an occasional target of his columns.
In 2008 SouthComm Communications of Nashville, Tennessee bought LEO.
As of February 2009, the magazine has undergone a style change. The biggest changes of note have been introducing a new logo and using magazine paper as opposed to news paper.