Public Narrative

Public Narrative Chicago's premiere cultivator of narrative change & supporter of community-oriented journalism ('89). Public Narrative went fully remote as of October 2020.

We don't currently have a physical location, but our mailing address is now 1245 S. Michigan Avenue, Suite 121, Chicago, IL 60605.

Leadership requires service. Service is truly show up..with ideas, questions, perspective, encouragement, and an unwaver...
10/06/2026

Leadership requires service. Service is truly show up..with ideas, questions, perspective, encouragement, and an unwavering commitment to the work.

For the past four years, Derrick M. Fleming, Jr. has done exactly that for Public Narrative as our Board Chair. He has been a thoughtful partner and trusted sounding board, helping us navigate big ideas, strategic decisions, and the work of building a stronger future for Public Narrative and Chicago’s local media landscape.

We are deeply grateful for Derrick’s leadership, partnership, and belief in the power of community-rooted media.

Now, it’s time to Celebrate. Connect. Salute. 🥂

Join Public Narrative and friends as we celebrate Derrick and his four years of service, raise a glass to his leadership, and look ahead to what’s next for Public Narrative.

Friends of Public Narrative: Celebrate. Connect. Salute.
📅 Tuesday, October 20, 2026
🕕 6–8:30 PM
📍 The Hubbard Inn

Your ticket includes refreshments, a drink, and a celebratory toast.

Come celebrate Derrick. Come connect with the Public Narrative community. And come raise a glass to the future of community-centered media in Chicago.

🎟️ Tickets are available now at bit.ly/FriendsOfPN




🎉 Welcome to CIMA, Community TV Network!We’re thrilled to welcome Community TV Network (CTVN) as the newest member of th...
10/01/2026

🎉 Welcome to CIMA, Community TV Network!

We’re thrilled to welcome Community TV Network (CTVN) as the newest member of the Chicago Independent Media Alliance (CIMA)!

For more than 50 years, CTVN has empowered Chicago youth to find their voices, tell their stories, and shape their communities through digital media. By providing young people with the resources, education, and creative tools to make media, CTVN helps students develop skills, confidence, and a vision for positive futures.

From artists and educators to alumni and emerging storytellers, CTVN has built a powerful network dedicated to amplifying the perspectives and creativity of Chicago’s young people.

We’re excited to have CTVN join a growing community of independent, community-rooted media makers working to create a more equitable, representative, and vibrant media landscape for Chicago.

Welcome to CIMA, CTVN! 🎥

We are in full planning mode!Our amazing planning team is hard at work getting every detail in place for our upcoming Fr...
09/28/2026

We are in full planning mode!

Our amazing planning team is hard at work getting every detail in place for our upcoming Friends of PN: Celebrate. Connect. Salute. 🎉

Join Public Narrative for an evening of community, connection, and celebration as we:
✨ Celebrate the work of Public Narrative
🤝 Connect with the people and stories that make Chicago’s media ecosystem thrive
🥂 Salute our outgoing Board Chair, Derrick M. Fleming, Jr., in recognition of four years of leadership and service

Your ticket includes refreshments, a drink, and a celebratory toast!

The Hubbard Inn
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
6:00–8:30 PM

We’re getting ready and we can’t wait to celebrate with you! 🎊

Get your tickets: bit.ly/FriendsOfPN

Celebrate. Connect. Salute!Join Public Narrative for an evening of community, connection, and celebration as we celebrat...
09/23/2026

Celebrate. Connect. Salute!

Join Public Narrative for an evening of community, connection, and celebration as we celebrate the work of Public Narrative, connect with the people and stories that make Chicago’s media ecosystem thrive, and salute our outgoing Board Chair, Derrick M. Fleming, Jr., MS, in recognition of four years of leadership and service.

This fun and intimate fall fundraiser brings together old friends and new faces who believe in the power of local media to strengthen communities. And who share our goal of making Chicago more informed, connected, and equitable.

Your ticket includes refreshments, a drink, and a celebratory toast.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
6:00–8:30 PM
Come raise a glass, share a story, meet new friends, and help us celebrate and invest in, the future of community-centered media in Chicago.

Join us: bit.ly/FriendsOfPN

09/22/2026

This reporting was made possible through the ARCC/Public Narrative Health Science Reporting Fellowship and the Chicago Community, Media & Research Partnership People in Illinois prisons can identify what they need, request accommodations, and still wait months or years to receive them—if they rece...

08/19/2026

📢 IL Community-Based Organizations!

Learn more about a meaningful capacity building opportunity led by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA)

Thank you Andrea Gatewood and your team for your support of Public Narrative and its partners at the Institute for Journalism and Racial Justice at DePaul University.

Applications for Institute to Innovate are due September 17th.

Apply here: https://icjia.illinois.gov/grants/funding/

What an honor it was to celebrate a journalist whose courage, determination, and unwavering commitment to truth paved th...
07/07/2026

What an honor it was to celebrate a journalist whose courage, determination, and unwavering commitment to truth paved the way for generations to follow.

Last month, the Bronzeville Community honored Ida B. Wells-Barnett, a pioneering investigative journalist, newspaper editor, and civil rights activist who fearlessly exposed the horrors of lynching in America. She challenged injustice at great personal risk, helped lay the foundation for investigative journalism as a tool for social change, and remains one of the most influential voices in the fight for racial and gender equality.

ICYMI: Public Narrative's Vice President of Journalism and Media Engagement, Sylvia Ewing, was featured in the Chicago Tribune's coverage of this year's Ida B. Wells Festival, co-hosted by CMA ‘22 Ripple Effect Awardee, Michelle Duster.

We are so proud to see Sylvia helping honor Wells-Barnett's legacy and the vital role journalism plays in informing, empowering, and strengthening communities.

📰 Read the Chicago Tribune story: https://bit.ly/4vkOuB1

Photo credit: Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune

Please join us as we celebrate our President & CEO, Jhmira Alexander! 🎉For the past seven, almost eight years, Jhmira ha...
06/19/2026

Please join us as we celebrate our President & CEO, Jhmira Alexander! 🎉

For the past seven, almost eight years, Jhmira has guided Public Narrative with vision, grace, and a deep commitment to community. Her leadership is rooted in intentionality, always centering the greater good of Chicago’s journalism ecosystem and the people who make it thrive.

Jhmira has a unique ability to see both the big picture and the individuals within it. She leads with thoughtfulness, creates space for meaningful collaboration, and continually challenges us to imagine what is possible when journalism truly serves communities. Her work has shaped new initiatives, strengthened relationships, and has moved our mission forward in ways that will be felt for years to come.

Those who know Jhmira know that her leadership extends far beyond strategy and innovation. She brings care, integrity, and purpose into every room she enters, inspiring those around her to lead with the same courage and compassion.

We celebrate not only another year of life, but the impact she continues to have on Public Narrative, Chicago’s media landscape, and the countless people she has touched through her work.

Happy Birthday, Jhmira! Thank you for your leadership, your heart, and your unwavering belief in the power of community. We are grateful for you today and every day.

05/16/2026

Congratulations to our own Jorge Mújica Murias who was honored for his immigrant worker social media education work!
From his acceptance speech:
"There are hundreds of thousands of undocumented workers in Chicagoland, eager to listen for some words of hope, instead of the regular message of “be afraid”, “they are coming for you”, “run and hide”, and the like.
We have done that. We offered resources, education, tools, and preparedness. With the spirit of Studs Turkel, we will keep doing that, offering hope by organizing, by resisting, by fighting back."
Public Narrative

Happy Birthday, Studs! 🎈Today, we celebrate what would have been Studs Terkel’s 114th birthday. His unwavering commitmen...
05/16/2026

Happy Birthday, Studs! 🎈

Today, we celebrate what would have been Studs Terkel’s 114th birthday. His unwavering commitment to listening deeply and amplifying everyday voices continues to guide our work at Public Narrative.

Just this past Thursday, we witnessed the power of Studs’ legacy come alive at our 31st Annual Community Media Awards at the Chicago Cultural Center. We celebrated incredible journalists, individuals, and civic organizations who embody his spirit and understand that the most compelling stories emerge when we truly listen to our communities.

Congratulations to all of our 2026 honorees who are carrying forward Studs’ tradition of authentic storytelling and community connection. And a heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us for an inspiring evening of celebration, connection, and narrative change.

As we honor Studs’ birthday, we’re reminded that our work to diversify voices in journalism, build media literacy, and shift harmful narratives is more crucial than ever.

Today and every day, we’re committed to telling Chicago’s stories with the authenticity, equity, and deep listening as Studs championed.
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