Indy Chicago media collaborate to stay afloat

"A free and truly independent press - fiercely independent when necessary - is the red beating heart of freedom and democracy," newsman Dan Rather once asserted.

Thomas Jefferson was known to say "Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost".

I agree.

On the other hand, when it comes to the business of the press, nothing is free.

Salaries cost. Ink, newsprint and other delivery technologies cost.

Due to the financial woes the current pandemic has brought, some independent members of Chicago's fourth estate seek assistance to keep on keeping on.

This in from Chicago Independent Media Alliance...

Facing drops of revenue as high as 85 percent, 43 independent Chicago media outlets have joined forces to raise funds in a month-long campaign in May. The for-profit and nonprofit organizations represent a wide cross-section of authentic community media in the city and nearby suburbs.

The public can give at savechicagomedia.org through June 5, 2020. The website offers the option to donate one amount to be split among all of the outlets, or donors can select one or more outlets to give a specific amount to.

“We who are in independent media find ourselves in a unique and dangerous economic situation,” said Tracy Baim, publisher of the Chicago Reader. “In response to COVID-19, national news outlets are tallying death tolls and assessing the situation globally. While that coverage is important, it leaves the average citizen confused and unsure of how to proceed within their community.”

The campaign is being coordinated by the Chicago Independent Media Alliance (CIMA), a project launched in 2019 by the Chicago Reader. Sixty media companies and nonprofit newsrooms belong to CIMA, which is coordinating grants, advertising, and editorial projects to assist in strengthening the local media landscape.

CIMA’s goal is to lift all boats through partnerships.

Donations are not tax deductible, but those wishing to provide money to a pooled matching fund can donate to The Chicago Independent Media Alliance 2020 Matching Fund at the Crossroads Fund. *

Several foundations have already committed to donating to the matching fund, and full details on the match will be available in mid-May.

“Local media outlets deliver authentic, community-driven journalism, reporting on the stories that matter most for communities largely affected by this, and future, health crises,” said Yazmin Dominguez, CIMA project coordinator. “Unfortunately, community media outlets are not getting the resources they need and are thus facing the real possibility of closure. This includes media serving African American, Latinx, Asian American, immigrant, LGBTQ, and other Chicago communities.”

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The campaign hashtag is #SaveChicagoMedia.

*Those folks with larger donations, who care about their contribution being tax deductible, are advised to send their checks to Crossroads Fund, 3411 W. Diversity, Chicago, IL 60647, Attn: Jane Kimondo, Executive Director. Make the check out to "Crossroads Fund" with this in memo line: The Chicago Independent Media Alliance 2020 Matching Fund. The downside is your contribution cannot be directed to any one media outlet. 

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The Chicago Independent Media Alliance (CIMA) is made up of more than 60 outlets covering the African American, Latinx, Asian American, immigrant, LGBTQ, and other Chicago communities. CIMA believes there is no better way to reach the city’s most marginalized and underserved communities than through community media outlets for and by those communities. We stand for information, accessibility, and equity. Questions can be directed to tbaim@chicagoreader.com.

CIMA fundraising partner media include…

AirGo Radio: Podcast and media hub showcasing people reshaping Chicago for the more equitable and creative.

Better Government Association: The BGA's in-depth investigative reporting exposes failings in Chicago and Illinois government.

Chicago Crusader: The Chicago Crusader is Chicago’s number one African American weekly newspaper.

Chicago Music Guide: Your guide to great music in Chicago. Music Promotions, resources and more.

Chicago Public Square: Free daily email news roundup for Chicago. The Reader poll’s pick for Best Blog.

Chicago Reader: The Reader, founded 1971, is Chicago’s in-depth and curated guide to culture, politics, and more.

The Chicago Reporter: is an investigative news organization focused on race, poverty and income inequality.

CHIRP Radio: CHIRP is your live, local community radio station focused on independent music and culture.

Cicero Independiente: A volunteer-run, bilingual, independent news outlet for and by residents of Cicero.

City Bureau: Nonprofit civic journalism lab serving Chicago’s south and west sides.

E3 Radio: An online station playing queer and independent music. Queer radio done right.

Free Spirit Media: Opportunities for emerging creators (ages 14-25), primarily from communities of color, to produce and create.

Growing Community Media with Austin Weekly News covering the West Side of Chicago from Garfield Park to Austin

Wednesday Journal: independent, intensely local, covering Oak Park and River Forest.

Hyde Park Herald: Hyde Park Herald is a weekly community newspaper rich in history and journalistic excellence.

Inside Publications: Skyline, Inside Booster, News Star newspapers: Your friendly 110-year-old neighborhood newspapers, serving Chicago's north side.

Injustice Watch: An investigative newsroom that exposes systemic inequities in the justice system.

Invisible Institute: Invisible Institute works to enhance the capacity of citizens to hold public institutions accountable.

Kartemquin Films: Supporting independent filmmakers producing social issue documentaries, fostering a more engaged society.

Korea Times Chicago: Most widely distributed daily publication for Korean news in Chicago.

La Raza Newspaper: The voice of Chicago’s Latino community for 50 years. La voz de la comunidad latina en Chicago por 50 años.

Left Out Magazine: Independent journalism, politics, culture, analysis, and debate by and about working-class Black people.

Loop North News: Loop North News serves the Loop and Near North neighborhoods of downtown Chicago.

Newcity: The publication of record for Chicago culture.

North Lawndale Community News: Providing news and information on resources and events that improve the lifestyle of individuals and families.

Public Narrative: Working on balancing public health, safety and education narratives affecting marginalized communities.

Rebellious Magazine for Women: Rebellious Magazine for Women is a feminist news and culture website founded in 2012.

Rivet: Telling the world’s stories and making them engaging and fun.

Sixty Inches from Center: Midwest-focused arts publication and archiving organization that supports BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, disability, and women’s culture.

SoapBox Productions and Organizing: Film and social activism non-profit specializing in multimedia storytelling for equity and structural change.

South Shore Current Magazine: Good news from Chicago's Cultural Soul Coast—the southeast and southern shore communities.

South Side Weekly: Independent, nonprofit newspaper for and about the south side of Chicago.

StreetWise: Empowering those facing homelessness with access to employment to work toward self-sufficiency with dignity.

StudentsXpress Magazine: A magazine of art and writing by students in CPS, preK-8th grade.

The Beverly Review: Weekly newspaper covering Beverly Hills, Morgan Park, and Mt. Greenwood.

The Daily Line: The Daily Line does critical reporting on policy and politics for professionals.

Third Coast Review: Chicago’s online arts and culture magazine, specializing in quirky, underground aspects of the arts scene.

West of the Ryan Current Magazine: Good News from Chinatown to Roseland—on the south side, west of the Dan Ryan.

The West Side Current Magazine: Good news from Chicago's west side—focused on pride, honor, and value of community.

Windy City Times: Award-winning newspaper serving the Chicagoland LGBTQ community since 1985.

This one-minute animated video was produced by artist Emma Biancak and narrated by multiple Chicagoans, including Kevin Coval in English and Yazmin Dominguez in Spanish.

Post-pandemic: What should the “new normal” include?

Maybe you’ve heard it too: I look forward to getting back to normal.

As for me, I’m not sure I want to go “back” or if we even can.

This pandemic has changed the whole landscape of our world personally, locally and globally.

When we evaluate all that has happened during the pandemic, we’ll find that loved ones and neighbors have been taken. Students’ education have been impacted. Jobs have been lost. Businesses have been closed and many will not open again. While isolating, all of our mental health has been challenged. On an up note, government agencies have learned to cooperate (to a certain extent). Some of us have gotten stimulus checks. The kind and generous side of many individuals and organizations have been exposed.

But now what?

I’d like to see our kind and generous sides expressed through our governments, corporations and other systems to continue, but more robustly.

Here’s my friend and colleague Carolyn Potts thoughts on the subject:

The new normal should not be a return to unconscious capitalism.
A rebooting of our values and priorities.

Mother Nature has said, "OK. You kids have really been misbehaving. I’ve warned you several times. But now I see that it’s time for a global ‘time-out’ to think about what you’ve been doing to our shared home. I’ll let you back out when you have demonstrated a commitment to share responsibility to clean up the mess that’s been made and that you’re ready to take responsibility for keeping our shared home in a healthier cleaner state."

…and this in from my co-conspirator, Chicago firefighter Cat Renar:

I have come to discover that there are visionaries for different aspects of our culture and times. You’ll see where I’m going, hopefully…eventually ;-)

For example, the geniuses that lead the way for the internet and how it changed the world. I was in marketing at the time the ‘web’ was forming, and one of my last projects I was tasked with was to create a website for my company. At that time, I couldn’t grasp the need for it or where this would go – and this from an educated, relatively computer literate and somewhat intelligent person! Fortunately, I changed careers shortly after and never completed that project, but I look back and am simply stunned by how much an important and integral part of our lives it is now, I am always awed by the visionaries that saw what was needed and lead the way.

Six years later, another world/life altering event occurred. This one wasn’t gradual like the first, but just as earthshaking: 9/11.

Fully entrenched in my new career as a firefighter/paramedic, I saw first hand the effects and repercussions of that devastating day. There were visionaries during that time too. Those who knew intrinsically what had happened and what needed to be done. They were both civic leaders and common folk. An example, my fire department had a large caravan of top notch fire and rescue personnel in route to NYC the next morning to help. I also recall how then Mayor of NYC Rudy Giuliani (!) deftly handled the incident. (Yes, I said THAT.) I remember the way the nation came together in unity, the way neighbors helped one another. That lasted for a while. And that is what I imagine true patriotism to mean.

Fast forward another 19 years. we are faced with another life/world altering event. The pandemic we have been hearing rumblings about for quite some time and ignored, has hit and hit hard. While we are still reeling from its effects, I realize there will be visionaries that lead us through this too. Experts that recognize what we need to move past…be it the testing, infrastructure or simply leadership that has to happen. Sadly, and I suppose cynically, I fear there will be major hurdles to get past. Poor leadership has not helped. Fear is overwhelming sensibilities and the coming together that occurred after 9/11 hasn’t happened…yet. But I suppose that’s because we’re still in its thrall.

So, what should the new normal include? More visionaries taking the lead. Time will tell.

Brené Brown summed up what I believe should happen: “This pandemic experience is a massive experiment is collective vulnerability. We can be our worst selves when we are afraid, or our very best, bravest selves. In the context of fear and vulnerability, there is often very little in between, because when we are uncertain and afraid our default is self protection. We don’t have to be scary when we’re scared. Let’s choose awkward, brave and kind. And let’s chose each other."

…and my friend and neighbor Jeremy Pardoe:

I hope for a world that is more realistic and compassionate: a world where we don't count on our individual good fortune as an entitlement, but see it as a blessing to be generously shared.

I hope for a world where employers, now forced to consider the collective welfare of their employees as a condition of their own survival, will see the advantage of standing by them through the smaller, lonelier crises in their lives.

I hope for a world where we stand in solidarity with the marginal and dispossessed - the imprisoned, the homeless, the mentally ill, and the physically disabled - recognizing that dispossession is a natural condition of life.

I hope for a world where distance brings us together. As we learn to keep friends close despite physical separation, we will come to see every stranger as a potential friend.

I hope that the world feels smaller: that we are more engaged with the human struggles of all our fellow world citizens.

I hope that we achieve a proper sense of the fragility of our existence, and of the terrible strain we put on the natural world.

I hope that we learn to be content with less.

I hope that we develop the collective resilience to deal with the storms that are coming, bending like a willow, not crashing like an oak.

I hope that our children will continue to have faith in the generosity of the universe.

Some others share their perspectives on my Evanston Live blog. 

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