Trib’s Rosenthal has new column called Margin Call

Michael Miner of the Chicago Reader praises the new column by Chicago Tribune business columnist Phil Rosenthal called Margin Call full of short items.

Miner writes, “Margin Call is a quick read raised by the power of ten. It’s got the flavor of a sports column too, because that’s where the column’s roots are. If this were an editor’s bright idea, I’d worry. ‘This was my idea,’ says Rosenthal in an e-mail. ‘We talked about a lot of ways to shake things up, and this was one of them that everyone got behind. There’s flexibility as events warrant, but the plan is to do ‘Margin Call’ four days a week in addition to a more traditional column, which would run in the Sunday paper . . .

“‘I’d like to think it’s not all rim shots, that there’s a point to at least some of it, whether it’s funny or not. But if it’s a quick, interesting read and brings readers to the business section of the website and paper, especially readers who might not otherwise be inclined, then it will be a success.’

“If it’s Rosenthal’s idea, it won’t be cheesy. I don’t think he could sustain cheesy even if he tried.”

Read more here.