Helping communities and journalists tell better stories since 1989.

Have you ever come across a narrative or story that stuck with you?

The People's Choice Awards is your platform to spotlight those who've made a profound impact through their storytelling. Whether it's a piece that changed your perspective, a voice that spoke truth to power, or a story that needs to be heard —this is your chance to nominate a journalist or storyteller who embodies the spirit of community media.

Don't let their impact go unrecognized—nominate your storytelling inspiration today.

Visit our website for more details and to submit your nomination.

Celebrate this year's Studs Terkel Award winners at the May 9th Community Media Awards

On Thursday, we revealed our 2024 Studs Terkel Community Media Award winners during an enlightening IG Live session with past awardees Britt Julious and Carlos Ballesteros.

Their insights and the announcement have set the stage for the May 9th awards, where we'll celebrate these journalistic exemplars together. Join us to honor the achievements of Bill Healy, Darcel Rockett, Irene Romulo, and Josh McGhee, as they are recognized for their impactful storytelling and steadfast commitment to truth.

And make sure to look out for our announcement of the Ripple Effect and Uplifting Voices winners ahead of the ceremony soon!

Register for the 29th Annual Community Media Awards and join us in celebrating the voices that shape our understanding and enrich our community discourse.

Spotlight on Segregation: The 'Shame of Chicago' Screening Sparks Vital Conversations

Director Bruce Orenstein introduces his documentary "Shame of Chicago, Shame of a Nation" at the film premiere in the Chicago History Museum. Photo: Jhmira Alexander

For those of you who attended the recent "Shame of Chicago, Shame of a Nation" screening, you witnessed a powerful narrative unfold—one that resonates deeply with our city's history and current social landscape.

On Tuesday, we gathered within the historical walls of the Chicago History Museum to attend the premiere of "Shame of Chicago," part of a four-part series soon to debut on WTTW and PBS. The series opened a profound discourse on the origins of America's modern-day racial divide and wealth gap.

This event was a viewing and a dialogue, with documentary creators and scholars discussing the series' first episode and what's ahead. The conversation, moderated by WBEZ's Natalie Moore and enriched by insights from director Bruce Orenstein, producer Chris L. Jenkins, and literary scholar and University of Chicago professor Adrienne Brown, underscored the documentary's focus on centering Black voices and experiences as well as the roles of allyship. It shed light on Chicago's history of segregation and its persistent resistance.

But this screening was merely a prologue to a much larger story. Alongside committed newsrooms—Chicago News Weekly, Borderless Magazine, South Side Weekly, Chicago Defender, and Investigative Project on Race and Equity—we are also unraveling narratives of segregation and migration woven into our city's fabric.

Our collective efforts are part of a statewide push emboldened by the substantial support of the Healing Illinois initiative. Through this partnership, which has seen the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Field Foundation disburse $4.5 million in grants, we've joined forces with 184 community organizations to ignite racial healing and sustain the dialogue that leads to understanding, empathy —and change.

Prepare to engage with the narratives the participating newsrooms explore. They are poised to do more than inform. These critical issues are being thoroughly reported on to spark education and transformation and to sew the seeds of healing throughout our communities.

We invite you to immerse yourselves in the stories published later this month and join us in purposeful discourse in planning.

For more information on the "Shame of Chicago" documentary and upcoming screenings, please visit shameofchicagodoc.org.

Photo: Olivia Obineme

Before you go: CIMA Members' Happy Hour Recap

Photo: Tafari Melisizwe for Public Narrative

Thank you to all the CIMA members who attended our March Happy Hour at Bureau Bar + Restaurant in Chicago's South Loop. The evening was filled with camaraderie and engaging discussions about our city's future of independent media.

Check out these snapshots from the event captured by photographer Tafari Melisizwe. Stay tuned for more highlights coming soon to our website. Cheers to the start of an exciting journey together!

In the days to come, the CIMA members will engage in their first in-person discussion about the Alliance's vision. Public Narrative will continue to share more of the collective journey soon.

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Public Narrative is a Chicago nonprofit dedicated to cultivating narrative change and supporting community-oriented journalism since 1989.