The program awards grants to media outlets and special reporting projects that represent stories by, for, and about residents and communities that are often excluded from media.
MacArthur today announced the renewal of a three-year, $3 million grant to the Field Foundation’s Media & Storytelling program, which provides grants to a diverse set of Chicago news outlets, reporters, and media makers to ensure stories of all Chicagoans are told accurately, fairly, and contextually.
As part of its Jack Fuller Legacy Initiative, MacArthur has contributed $6 million over six years to support 78 nonprofit media outlets and special reporting projects to date. The Field Foundation uses that support to award a range of grants, each in the amount of $25,000 to $50,000 three times per year, for content creation, editorial collaborations and partnerships, and operations and equipment. Funding for travel and professional development is also available. The foundations share a full list of those organizations and projects supported to date.
“The small, independent news outlets and storytellers supported by the Media and Storytelling Program help anchor a diverse, growing, and community-focused media ecosystem in Chicago. They provide new opportunities and tools to share authentic and alternative perspectives not reflected in mainstream media,” said Kathy Im, Director of Media and Journalism at MacArthur.
“Every Chicago resident benefits from MacArthur’s support of local journalism,” said Daniel O. Ash, President of the Field Foundation. “We are grateful for our partnership with MacArthur because it enables grant support for organizations that report news and document stories reflecting residents and neighborhoods historically overlooked. Our city’s ambition for equity and connectedness depends on our collective ability to hear and see one another. The diverse news and media organizations we support through our partnership help make this possible.”
Learn more about Media & Storytelling requirements, deadline information, and how to apply.
