August 2025: Journalism Funding Wins, Tools for Nonprofits, Chicago Events, and Reflections From PN
Hey, Narrative Change Community!
In this issue:
📰 News: Updates on state and philanthropic funding for local journalism, plus new leadership at Chicago Public Media.
🔗 Resources: A new capacity-building program for nonprofits, fundraising lessons from the Lenfest Summit, and an upcoming workshop on AI for Chicago newsrooms.
📅 Events: From a journalism unity picnic to festivals celebrating Black culture and community wellness.
📣 PN Updates: Jhmira Alexander reflects on her sabbatical return and capacity building, plus a celebration of Alliance Matters participants.
And we want to hear from you too! We won't be able to capture it all, so send us your news, and you might find it right here in an upcoming newsletter that thousands in our community receive.
Jhmira’s Word
Photo of Jhmira Alexander by Amy Comita for Public Narrative.
Save the Date!
See what's being published this month.
Photo from the Northwestern Medill Local News Initiative.
Illinois Newsrooms Receive $4 Million from State // Northwestern Medill Local News Initiative
Illinois distributed $4 million to local newsrooms this year, the first state in the nation to fund journalism directly. Forty Illinois news organizations will share $4 million in tax credits under a new law supporting journalist retention. Read more here.
Foundations Commit $36.5 Million to Protect Public Media in Communities // MacArthur Foundation
After federal cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, six major foundations, including MacArthur Foundation, Ford Foundation, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Pivotal, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Schmidt Family Foundation, are providing $36.5 million in emergency relief to at-risk public media stations. Read more here.
Chicago Public Media Names Pulitzer Prize-winning Journalist Kimbriell Kelly As Editor-in-Chief // Block Club Chicago
Kimbriell Kelly, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter with deep Chicago roots, has been named editor-in-chief of Chicago Public Media, guiding its integrated WBEZ, Vocalo, and Sun-Times editorial team. Read more here.
Explore local resources.
IGNITE // Chicago Booth Rustandy Center, Golub Capital Lab, Chicago Urban League
IGNITE is a 9-month capacity-building experience for nonprofit leaders and their teams who serve historically disinvested communities in Chicago. Applications for the cohort open on September 9, 2025. Book a 15-minute conversation with Director Tyeise Huntley to learn more about the program here or attend the in-person breakfast info session on September 11 by registering here.
Lessons From the Lenfest News Philanthropy Summit: ‘Help the Donor Have the Impact They Want to Have on the World’ // The Lensfest Institute
More than 350 news fundraising professionals joined Press Forward and The Lenfest Institute for the Summit. Learn about the five key takeaways on how to implement best practices for fundraising professionals. Read more here.
September 8: AI Technologies for Chicago News Organizations // Robert R. McCormick Foundation, Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism
This workshop will feature AI experts who will showcase interesting uses of AI in local newsrooms, explore how AI is being used in investigative journalism, and demonstrate how to use AI tools in everyday newsroom operations. RSVP here.
Statewide Violence Prevention Plan for Illinois: 2025-2029 //Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA)
The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) funds and supports violence prevention efforts across Illinois. This month, ICJIA released the Statewide Violence Prevention Plan for Illinois: 2025-2029 is a report on ICJIA’s violence prevention planning for 2025-2029 and a resource for any state or community group interested in violence prevention efforts. Read the full report here.
Explore Chicago's opportunities and jobs.
Co-Executive Director: Director of Development and Finance // Elastic Arts Foundation
Elastic Arts is hiring a Director of Development and Finance to co-lead the organization, strengthen fundraising, and guide financial strategy. Apply by September 7, 2025 for priority consideration. Apply here.
Data & Interactives Journalist // Illinois Answers Project
Illinois Answers is hiring a data-driven journalist to lead investigations, build interactives, and uncover accountability stories through data. Apply here before August 29, 2025.
Beverly, Morgan Park and Mount Greenwood Reporter // Block Club Chicago
Block Club Chicago is looking for a full-time reporter to cover the city’s Far Southwest Side. Apply here before September 15, 2025.
Contract Community Immigration Reporter // Cicero Independiente
The contracted reporter will develop a coverage strategy for an “immigration” beat to inform local Cicero and Berwyn residents on national updates and how it impacts them on a state and hyperlocal level. Apply here.
See what’s happening this month.
August 28: Chicago Journalism Unity Picnic 2025 // AAJA, NABJ, NLGJA, NAHJ, Chicago Journalists Association, Chicago Headline Club
The Chicago Journalism Unity Picnic is a networking opportunity and casual get-together with fellow journalists. Food will be provided. RSVP for the free event here.
August 30: African Festival of the Arts // Africa International House USA, Inc.
Celebrate 35 years of Black global culture with immersive village experiences, art, food, and performances across the African Diaspora. Get your tickets here.
September 14: Strength in the City Festival // Strength in the City
A simple fitness and wellness event has evolved into a powerful movement focused on strengthening the people of each city through movement and connection to strengthening the entire city itself. Learn more and get your tickets here.
Forming Relationships between the Chicago Public Library Foundation and Community Media
Photo by Tafari Melisizwe for Public Narrative.
On August 21, Public Narrative hosted the Alliance Matters Reception at the Harold Washington Library Center to celebrate the launch of Alliance Matters: an editorial campaign and collaborative project with 14 independent media outlets from the Chicago Independent Media Alliance (CIMA).
The evening showcased how local outlets are working together to amplify community stories, elevate diverse voices, and strengthen Chicago’s media ecosystem. Awardees and partners shared their projects and missions, with remarks underscoring the power of collaboration in sustaining community-driven journalism.
Special thanks to the Field Foundation for supporting this work and to the Chicago Public Library for their partnership in hosting the reception. Stay tuned for more updates from Alliance Matters!
Reflections aims to spotlight the different worlds that make up our narrative change ecosystem. We'll share some events, call-to-actions, news stories and even people working towards shifting narratives that impact us all.
And we want to hear from you too! We won't be able to capture it all, so send us your news, and you might find it right here in an upcoming newsletter that thousands in our community receive.
Email our Digital Engagement Manager, Ivy Do, at ido@publicnarrative.org if you have any other inquiries about our newsletter.
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Public Narrative is a Chicago nonprofit dedicated to cultivating narrative change and supporting community-oriented journalism since 1989.
Ivy Do Writer
