The Field Foundation of Illinois, in collaboration with the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, offers the Journalism & Storytelling grant to strengthen local news production and community storytelling across Chicago. This initiative is designed to foster a sustainable and inclusive local media environment that accurately and equitably reflects the diversity of the city’s communities. The Foundation seeks to promote media equity, aligning its efforts with larger philanthropic movements like the Press Forward initiative, which focus on revitalizing local journalism through pooled funding and strategic support.
The program's primary objectives are to amplify the voices of community journalists and media producers, including both traditional and alternative platforms, and to support fact-based storytelling that can influence public opinion and policy. Journalism is defined by the Foundation as the activity of gathering, assessing, creating, and presenting news and information, while storytelling is described as crafting narratives based on facts that can inspire social change and deepen understanding of community issues.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, allowing for ongoing opportunities to seek support. There is no specific deadline, which provides flexibility for applicants to submit proposals when they are ready. While details on award amounts and specific evaluation criteria are not explicitly mentioned, the program emphasizes impact and alignment with the mission of filling information gaps in Chicago’s media landscape.
Eligible applicants include news outlets, media startups, and storytellers that are rooted in or focused on serving Chicago’s diverse communities. Proposals should demonstrate a commitment to equity in media representation and the telling of untold or underreported stories.
For further guidance or support with the application process, interested parties can contact Maudlyne Ihejirika, the Program Officer for Journalism & Storytelling at the Field Foundation. The organization is headquartered at Impact House, 200 W Madison St, 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606. There are no specific pre-application or Q&A deadlines, and the grant does not specify an award announcement timeline.
