The Field Foundation of Illinois

Congratulations to Carlos Hernandez on being honored by Crain's Chicago Business as a Notable Latino Leader in 2024. Earlier this year, The Field Foundation of Illinois and the MacArthur Foundation recognized Carlos with a Leaders for a New Chicago Award. We appreciate his contributions to building a more inclusive Chicago. #LeadersForANewChicago #community #powerbuilding #philanthropy

Last night, the Field Foundation, led by Journalism & Storytelling Program Officer Maudlyne Ihejirika, hosted an inspiring convening of journalists, funders, and policymakers to discuss the critical state of journalism in the context of the Field-supported Institute for Independent Journalists' first-ever survey of laid off journalists.? ? The conversation addressed stark realities of 8,400+ journalists—9% of the workforce—having been laid off since 2022, with layoffs disproportionally impacting women, journalists of color, and younger professionals. Yet the panel focused on how to transform learnings from the data into a pathway for meaningful action—highlighting strategies for resilience and possibilities for change, while underscoring the importance of journalism at a time when the public's need for fact-based reporting has never been greater. ? Big thanks to our moderator, Deborah Douglas, Director Medill's Midwest Solutions Journalism Hub and our panelists:?Meredith D. Clark, UNC Chapel Hill Associate Professor;?Tim Franklin, Senior Associate Dean, Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University;?Katherine X Reynolds Lewis, Founder, The Institute for Independent Journalists; and?Alyssa Edes, Chicago-based former producer, WNYC Studios. ? And thanks to all who joined us at Impact House for a memorable evening. ? ???Read more about the IJJ survey results here:?https://lnkd.in/edJbSyWF

Congratulations to Joe Aguilar, Chief Investment Officer for the Office of the Illinois State Treasurer and Chair of The Field Foundation of Illinois' Board of Directors, on being named a Crain's Chicago Business Notable Latino Leader in 2024. We appreciate your leadership and contributions to Field's mission to support community power building in Chicago! Congrats as well to all honorees!

Today’s the day! The Field Foundation with The Institute for Independent Journalists will be hosting a critical discussion “The Journalism Jobs Crisis: A Call to Action,” at 6:30-8:30PM. ? ? The Field Foundation is proud to have funded the IIJ’s first-ever survey of laid off journalists. Because news organizations no longer disclose employee demographic data to researchers historically compiling that information, the impact of layoffs on U.S. newsroom diversity had been unknown and a challenge to discuss.? ? We look forward to this conversation with journalists, funders and policymakers as we explore the question: Where do we go from here??

Last Friday, we had a wonderful #LeadersForANewChicago gathering at The Honeycomb Network, where we shared a meal with leaders who are bringing transformative change to communities across Chicago. We also recognized analía rodríguez for their many contributions to this program and celebrated their new opportunity at Neighborhood Funders Group. Grateful for inspiring conversations and connections. Thanks to all who joined us! MacArthur Foundation #community #powerbuilding #philanthropy #chicago

TOMORROW: A stellar panel of industry experts—moderated by Deborah Douglas, Director, Medill's Midwest Solutions Journalism Hub— will unpack the critical issue of disappearing newsroom jobs as the public's need for reliable, fact-based information has never been greater.? ? Panelists: Meredith D. Clark, UNC Chapel Hill Associate Professor; Tim Franklin, Senior Associate Dean, Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University; Katherine X Reynolds Lewis, Founder, IIJ; and Alyssa Edes, Chicago-based former producer, WNYC Studios. The Field Foundation is proud to have funded The Institute for Independent Journalists’ first-ever survey of laid off journalists. We look forward to this important discussion with journalists, funders and policymakers. #journalism #storytelling #localnews #community #powerbuilding #philanthropy? ?

This Tuesday, Nov. 19, The Field Foundation of Illinois and The Institute for Independent Journalists will present a critical discussion on the state of Journalism jobs in these times of uncertainty.? ? The Field Foundation of Illinois is proud to have funded the IIJ’s first-ever survey of laid off journalists. Circulated by nearly three dozen journalism organizations, the survey captures 30+ questions on the background, demographics, experience and perspective of those journalists who have been laid off. Not surprisingly, laid off journalists describe the experience as brutal and taxing, and many are leaving Journalism. So where do we go from here? We will unpack with journalists, funders and policymakers the disappearance of Journalism jobs, even as the public's need for reliable, fact-based information has never been greater.? #journalism #storytelling #localnews #community #powerbuilding #philanthropy?

We’re incredibly proud to partner with The Field Foundation of Illinois and these brilliant panelists in discussion about the growing journalism jobs crisis. Thank you Meredith D. Clark, Tim Franklin, Alyssa Edes and moderator Deborah Douglas for joining IIJ founder Katherine X Reynolds Lewis for a reception and call to action about sustainable careers in news. This conversation was inspired by the results of our first-ever recent journalism layoff survey – a project made possible due to support from The Field Foundation of Illinois. ?? Read more about our survey results here: https://lnkd.in/edJbSyWF ?? If you’ve been impacted by layoffs – or looking to be there for others – we’ve created a reference guide to support your next steps: https://lnkd.in/e2z4fwqX

DEADLINE EXTENDED! If you're a nonprofit applying for a #HealingIllinois grant to support racial healing work, you now have until Wed, 11/20 to submit. More details: https://lnkd.in/ghxJv8Au #healingillinois #racialhealing #community #powerbuilding #philanthropy

“A question that’s always been vexing for newsrooms is who decides what stories to tell. With the disruption of the business model in media, we have an opportunity to reimagine how we bring the community into the newsroom. Nonprofit newsrooms like City Bureau and Invisible Institute are developing infrastructure that allows them to perpetually keep their ear to the ground and their time to be dictated by the community.” — Field President Daniel O. Ash Daniel joined a panel at a City Bureau event to celebrate its Pulitzer Prize-winning “Missing in Chicago” investigation by Sarah Conway and Trina Reynolds-Tyler. City Bureau Executive Director Morgan M. described City Bureau’s focus on sustained impact journalism—equipping communities with the civic information they need to create change in their lives. Congrats again to Sarah and trina and to the City Bureau and Invisible Institute staffs. We're proud to support your work. Read: "Missing in Chicago: https://bit.ly/3UOpcfs Support City Bureau: https://lnkd.in/g2zyP-vj Support Invisible Institute: https://lnkd.in/gvkexyDS #journalism #storytelling #community #powerbuilding #philanthropy #chicago