Explore Chicago’s Independent Media and Local News Outlets
Our guide is here to help you explore more news and culture coverage of the city.
Advertise your local business, corporate entity, nonprofit, or government agency to a combined audience of more than 4.5 million.
Looking for new sources of information about Chicago’s diverse communities?
Photo Credit: Tafari Melisizwe
About the Chicago Independent Media Alliance (CIMA) and our media directory.
The Chicago Independent Media Alliance (CIMA) is a coalition of community-centered media organizations committed to building a more equitable and representative local media landscape. Our members span legacy print outlets, digital-first platforms, newsletters, podcasts, youth-led media, filmmakers, and more—many of them BIPOC-owned, BIPOC-led, and rooted in historically underserved communities.
CIMA supports both nonprofit and for-profit outlets, some with fiscal agents, all united in reaching diverse Chicago communities, including Black, Latinx, Asian, Arab, Polish, LGBTQIA+, and immigrant populations.
In February 2024, CIMA transitioned from the Reader Institute for Community Journalism (RICJ) to Public Narrative, a trusted Chicago nonprofit that amplifies community voices and strengthens local journalism.
Together, CIMA members …
– Primary outlets reach a combined audience of 4.5 million.
– Represent all of the city’s 50 wards and many nearby suburbs
– Produce content in 6 languages
– Uplift a wide range of voices to ensure that media is inclusive of —and accessible to— diverse communities.
Visit our directory to receive an overview of each outlet’s market volume, frequency, reach, coverage areas, and the type of content produced.
*The media directory identifies CIMA members by logos; please note that the directory also includes media organizations not in CIMA.
