Chi-Town Daily News
Intended audience: Chicago Residents
Project category: Journalism
Link to web site: 
http://www.chitowndailynews.org/

The Daily News is one of Chicago's leading sources for local news. Founded in 2005 by Geoff Dougherty, former reporter at the Chicago Tribune and Miami Herald, and funded through the Knight News Challenge in 2007, the Daily News covers vitally important Chicago news.

We produce professionally reported public affairs journalism covering beats neglected by the city's other media outlets including public housing, public schools, labor, public health, higher education, the environment, transit, and private schools.

We also produce detailed coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods through our volunteer neighborhood reporter program. Our network of over 80 volunteers covers everything from the local impact of the digital TV transition to community opposition to Chicago's Olympic bid. Our volunteers all receive training in journalism basics, and are mentored by our experienced editorial staff.

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Recent blog posts
  • Week in Knight Journalism 7/21
    A weekly round-up of news from Knight's journalism program
    Matt Thompson
    Jul 21 |
    0 comments

    As traditional sources of funding for journalism are contracting, more attention is being paid to the role Knight and other foundations are playing in supporting journalism. So Knight President and CEO Alberto Ibargüen has been giving a lot of interviews about the state of the industry.

    Over the past week, Alberto has been profiled in The Chronicle of Philanthropy (subscription required) and on MediaBistro. He also made a cameo appearance in a column by New York Times public editor Clark Hoyt, who paraphrases him as saying that "unless traditional news organizations move from 'I write and you read' to partnerships and letting the public participate in shaping the news, 'I think the world will pass them by.'"

    More after the break >>

  • How do you build community with Chicago news?
    Geoff Dougherty of Chi-Town Daily News talks with Daniel Honigman of Tribune Interactive
    Kristen Taylor
    Apr 29 |
    2 comments

    Founding Editor of Chi-Town Daily News (a Chicago non-profit online newspaper and Knight News Challenge winner) Geoff Dougherty talks with Daniel Honigman, Social Media Strategist at Tribune Interactive about building community with Chicago news.

    Find out Colonel Tribune's identity, how Chi-Town does outreach on public housing, an idea about associating actions with a story, the importance of SEO (search engine optimization), and why to organize offline events for online readership.

    Other ways to encourage community around local news? How is the online news community different in Chicago?