Chicago's News Landscape Transforming from Print to Online
Local news agencies have found innovative ways to adapt their coverage of national crises. Even successful news outlets struggle against the array of new online sources.

These digital players are often niche-focused and use social media as a distribution channel. They experiment with reporting styles and community engagement, and they specialize in a variety of topics. Furthermore, they have opened new opportunities for writers; some of whom can monetize their work via services like Substack. This has led the rise of a brand new type of journalist who does not have to be tied to a particular publication, but can instead build up devoted subscribers for any newsletter they choose.

Digital startups address specific community needs in New York City, for example on the South or West sides. Others want to hold politicians responsible for their policies. Some experiments are even funded by philanthropy.

The McCormick Foundation spearheads efforts to enhance local reporting, including partnering with chicago news irving park (http://Illinoismail.top) area newsrooms via the Metro Media Lab Project to conduct audience and strategy research. In addition, the Chicago staff of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism collaborated with them in order to improve their skills.

Chicago residents from across all regions reported feeling that news media in their neighborhood could use improvement, with notable regional variations; certain neighborhoods felt under- and misrepresented by mainstream media and there were gaps in coverage of specific issues such as crime and law enforcement.

Chicago area news organizations also boast an innovative news ecosystem with both for-profit and nonprofit outlets operating experimental news programs. Some are even working to build trust between journalists and communities by establishing themselves in these neighborhoods and making sure traditionally underserved communities receive coverage in writing as well as voice.

Block Club Chicago released a story about Adam Toledo’s police shooting just a couple of months after the event. But they made sure to not traumatize readers by omitting graphic video footage.

The TRiibe online news outlet is building trust among Black Chicagoans. Three Northwestern University alumni were tired of Chicago's portrayal in mainstream news media as "the city that murders." Their creators wanted to create a place where their community would have a voice while also giving the people ownership of its narrative. TRiibe's efforts have paid off. The content on the site has been shared widely across social networks, leading to civic involvement initiatives in Chicago.