Advertising with CIMA members is an investment not just a business decision
The CIMA Media Directory is a centralized resource showcasing the depth and reach of our member organizations. It includes traditional newspapers, podcasts, newsletters, video producers, youth-led platforms, nonprofit newsrooms, and more—all rooted in Chicago’s communities and committed to local storytelling.
This directory serves multiple purposes:
For advertisers and partners, it’s a powerful tool to connect with trusted, community-based outlets that reach deeply engaged audiences across race, language, geography, and identity.
For journalists and collaborators, it offers visibility into a wide network of media-makers working at the grassroots and hyperlocal levels.
For funders and advocates, it provides a clear picture of the independent media landscape and the many voices shaping public dialogue in Chicago.
Advertising with CIMA members isn’t just a business decision—it’s an investment in community access to media. By leveraging advertising across multiple outlets, organizations can amplify their message while directly supporting trusted, community-rooted journalism. Coordinated ad buys through CIMA allow for broader reach, multilingual messaging, and deeper engagement among Chicago’s culturally robust communities.
Photo credit: Tafari Melisizwe
Photo credit: Aay Preston-Myint looks down at various materials from the archive, including books and photos. Boxes of archival materials sit on shelves behind the artist. They are wearing a leather jacket and purple gloves. One hand rests on their glasses. Photo by Ryan Edmund Thiel.
How to use the media directory to advertise
Find outlets who run advertisements/sponsorships and immediately access their sales director and publisher contact information. Use the filter feature to find outlets who specifically serve the audiences you want to reach.
Our media directory contains the following data plus more:
- Audience demographics
- Market volume
- Market frequency
- Coverage areas and zip codes
- ALAANA status
Thousands of small businesses, corporations, nonprofits, and government agencies spend their advertising dollars in local media each year. Your ad dollars keep a diverse media ecosystem thriving and—more important to you—help you reach loyal and engaged audiences.
The media outlets in this directory have a combined audience of 4.5 million which includes…
• 3.7 million monthly website users;
• 330,000 broadcast radio listeners;
• 290,000 print run per issue;
• 70,000 monthly broadcast TV viewers;
• 60,000 newsletter subscribers;
• 5,000 podcast and online radio listeners;
• 360 online TV viewers.
*The data above combines the primary audience for each outlet in the directory. The 4.5 million figure describes the total combined audience for all outlets’ primary products, but we estimate the total audience is higher when the outlets’ additional media channels are included.
Source: CIMA 2021 Annual Report
