CityBeat was born in November 1994 with a simple idea: Cincinnati deserved an independent voice to tell the stories of our underserved communities. Backed by Thomas Schiff and co-founded by John Fox, CityBeat quickly became the place for stories that didn’t fit neatly anywhere else.
For 31 years, we’ve covered the city’s wins, losses, music, food, politics, culture and characters, often with a wink, sometimes with a raised eyebrow, but always with heart. Along the way, we’ve picked up national and statewide journalism and design awards, including being named Ohio’s Best Weekly Paper by the Society of Professional Journalists.
Through ownership changes (a sale to SouthComm Communications in 2012, then Euclid Media Group in 2018 and finally Big Lou Holdings in 2023), CityBeat has remained committed to fearless local storytelling.
Now, as of December 2025, CityBeat begins a new era (and returns to local ownership) with LINK Media. We honor the scrappy, independent spirit that built this publication while investing in a strong future for local journalism.
We’re still curious. Still stubbornly independent. Still proudly Cincinnati. And we’re just getting started.