Alternative Media: Chicago's Journalism Ecosystem
Independent and alternative media outlets have helped diversify news coverage through independent outlets that focus on local issues or communities. These smaller organizations are often focused on a particular group or issue in a given issue area. A small group may decide on your editorial decisions, and they often lack the resources or capacity necessary to hire professional journalists. Moreover, many of the people who are behind these organizations are also active in social movements. Their work tends to be activist by nature and adheres often to the normative social movement theories, which emphasize deliberative democratic involvement as well providing alternative narratives for marginalized voice.

At these critical junctures, it is crucial to comprehend how political circumstances shape these values and organizational practices that support them. The papers in this special issue shed some light on this process of transformation.

How media are understood is heavily influenced by political systems. Different political theories offer different views on democracy, the public sphere, and how these outlets are to function, which determines their interpretation. 2019; Figenschou and Frischlich 2019). While some researchers emphasize the concept of citizen’s media which encourages participation, others may focus on diversity in media coverage to counter ideology hegemony.

Another important question about alternative media is the definition. Some authors adopt a relationshipal framework which characterizes alternative as self-proclaimed corrections that challenge dominant discourse. (Harlow 2022). Other scholars use analytical frameworks to study how these media are different from mainstream and if their influence reaches beyond mainstream.

Aslan Ozgul (2022), Veneti, and Aslan Ozgul (2019) examine how organizational structures of alternative news projects on a large scale in Turkey and Greece are affected by their expansion. Some retain a collaborative and participatory culture while others increase staff numbers and produce more content. Their study indicates this change may influence whether these initiatives maintain their "alternativeness", while becoming more similar to professional actors.

Block Club edgebrook chicago news; illinoismail.top,, which reports on local events and problems in Chicago neighborhoods, is an example of the growing recognition. This organization illustrates how community journalism can bridge gaps among residents, promote civic participation and give individuals the power to make informed choices regarding their lives. This project, which focuses on community stories aims to give all Chicagoans the information they need to lead a fulfilling life. It can serve as an example to other groups looking to become the bridge that leads to civic engagement in Chicago, which our mainline news media has been unable or unwillingly provide.