Medill Local News Initiative

05/21/2026

Showing up at the Capitol is one thing. Knowing how to write a bill is another. For 16 years, Latino Unity Day has trained Illinois residents to do both — pairing community members with policy experts who help translate their concerns into legislative language before they ever sit down with a lawmaker.
The proof is in the statehouse:
— Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus: from a handful of founders in 2002 to 18 legislators today
— Temp Worker Fairness and Safety Act: introduced to signed in about six months
But this year's attendance dropped from 900 to 600. Organizers say fear around ICE is keeping the residents who most need a seat at the table from showing up — a reminder that civic infrastructure only works when people feel safe using it.
Full story by McKenna Sweet at ILLatinoNews.com.
Part of the Healing Illinois 2026 Reporting Project: Democracy Lives Here, led by the Medill - Northwestern University Solutions Journalism Hub and made possible by a grant from Healing Illinois — a racial and community healing initiative from the Illinois Department of Human Services in partnership with The Field Foundation of Illinois.

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05/21/2026

State of Local News Project's director Zach Metzger spoke with CNN about the lack of access to local news in military communities, leaving millions with fewer reliable sources of information.

Watch here:

CNN’s Brianna Keilar speaks with Thomas Brennan from the nonprofit newsroom The War Horse and Zach Metzger from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism. They discuss the implications of their study showing many military communities are becoming ‘news deserts.’

05/15/2026

Local Businesses LOVE Sponsoring Youth Sports on Local News! Find the full episode here:

In the third episode of the State of Local News Podcast, host Tim Franklin—Professor, John M. Mutz Chair in Local News, and founding director of the Medill Local News Initiative—speaks with veteran journalist and podcaster Chuck Todd.

05/14/2026

The fight to save the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette raises a bigger question: what does it actually mean to save local news? New reporting from the Local News Initiative explores the future of legacy newspapers and civic information.

Stewart Bainum Jr. just committed $30 million over five years to prevent the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from shutting down.

05/12/2026

The Northwestern Local News Initiative is excited to partner with the Maynard Institute to invite journalism industry professionals and emerging news leaders to a FREE training for early- and mid-career editors and managers. This training will take place on June 4-5 at the Medill Downtown Chicago Campus.

Featuring innovative frameworks, coaching and mentoring for career and newsroom development, this onsite training provides journalism professionals with the tools they need amid the complexities of news leadership.

Learn more and register by May 26. Details here:

Our Maynard Regional Training Series gives editors, managers and newsroom leaders the tools they need to thrive in this complex field.

05/07/2026

Want your local government to actually listen? – Bloomington-Normal's Public Media is reporting on what works — and what doesn't — when citizens show up to advocate for change. Tune in the week of May 11.

05/05/2026

What does it actually take to run an election? Capitol News Illinois is reporting on Illinois county clerks — their evolving roles, their challenges and the practices that strengthen faith in electoral processes.

Look for their work on Illinois residents’ behalf the week of May 11 as part of the Healing Illinois: Democracy Lives Here Journalism & Storytelling Reporting Project.

05/04/2026

Big news is coming. 🗳️

Starting the week of May 11, five Illinois newsrooms will publish original, solutions-focused reporting on democracy, civic engagement and the people working to strengthen it — all as part of the Healing Illinois: Democracy Lives Here Journalism & Storytelling Reporting Project. Follow along as the Medill - Northwestern University Solutions Journalism Hub with support from The Field Foundation of Illinois and the Illinois Department of Human Services lifts up the stories that matter.

05/04/2026

What does craft beer have to do with local news?

More than you think. 🍻

On the latest episode of the State of Local News Podcast, Chuck Todd explains why people crave unique, local journalism again.
Read/Listen:

In the third episode of the State of Local News Podcast, host Tim Franklin—Professor, John M. Mutz Chair in Local News, and founding director of the Medill Local News Initiative—speaks with veteran journalist and podcaster Chuck Todd.

04/27/2026

News deserts are becoming data centers, and the watchdogs are already gone. Read here:

“At least some of these big companies look for communities that are news deserts to build projects,” a local journalist said, “because it’s easier for them when there’s less public scrutiny.”