The primary subject of Illinois Instances got here scorching off the press Sept. 18, 1975. Within the pressroom the place it occurred have been, from left, Invoice Friedman, founding writer; Chris Skoczynski, manufacturing; behind her, obscured, Victoria Pope, employees reporter; Claudia Dowling, hidden, carrying glasses, employees reporter; Barbara Donohue, holding paper, artwork director; Ruth and Lester Friedman, supporters.
This yr marks the fiftieth anniversary of Illinois Instances, a exceptional achievement for a regionally owned, unbiased publication. Over the previous few many years, altering traits in readership and promoting have led to steep declines within the variety of newspapers nationwide, with the pandemic solely accelerating the demise of many publications.
Northwestern College’s Medill Faculty of Journalism has been publishing an annual “State of Native Information Venture” since 2016, analyzing the state of stories protection nationwide. As of 2024, there have been 206 counties within the U.S. with no information retailers, and 1,561 counties with just one. As well as, among the remaining publications are “ghost newspapers,” which function in title solely and have nearly no authentic, native reporting.
In accordance with the State of the Native Information Venture, the U.S. has misplaced one-third of its print newspapers over the previous 20 years. Fewer than 5,600 newspapers stay, 80% of that are weeklies. Of the 1,000 previously day by day newspapers, solely a 3rd of these nonetheless print seven days per week.
IT has by no means missed per week of publishing, even through the peak of the pandemic when many different newspapers in our nationwide affiliation suspended printing or switched from a weekly to a month-to-month format. Lots of the publications that stopped printing by no means resumed it and have become digital solely.
Maybe not surprisingly, the State of the Native Information Venture discovered that the one space of progress for newspapers is an increase within the variety of digital websites, with 105 stand-alone websites launching in 2024 (though 30 of these have been newspapers that moved online-only after ending print editions).
In distinction, our goal is to proceed to develop our digital presence whereas retaining our print readership. We print and distribute 20,000 copies per week in Sangamon County and the encompassing space, averaging a 94% pick-up price. There’s clearly nonetheless a powerful print readership on this market, however we acknowledge that extending our digital content material and social media will assist us to succeed in a youthful and extra numerous viewers. And whereas we already put up new content material on-line nearly day by day, having extra digital-only content material will enable us to give attention to extra well timed and time-sensitive protection than we are able to handle with a weekly print version.
Sangamon County is lucky to not be categorized as a information desert, however there’s nonetheless a necessity for extra native reporting. The arrival of social media has led to a deluge of data, however for the typical individual it may be exhausting to confirm the accuracy of what’s shared and even tougher to place it into context. Good reporting not solely conveys the speedy happenings, however goes past sharing a primary abstract to let the reader know the historical past of the subject and what to search for subsequent.
And whereas there are a large number of sources for nationwide information protection, there are few choices for residents desirous about studying about what their municipal authorities or faculty board is doing. Despite the fact that such conferences are open to the general public, most individuals haven’t got time to attend regularly, and even watch a two-or three-hour video of it. That is one of many causes we’re captivated with our new partnership with SeeGov.org, which produces spotlight reels for Springfield Metropolis Council and Springfield District 186 conferences (see p. 12 for particulars). We hope to develop this protection as effectively, each by producing common spotlight reels for extra varieties of conferences and pairing these with information articles that develop on the matters mentioned.
Within the coming months, we plan to rent our first digital media coordinator to develop our on-line presence, together with ramping up our pictures and videography. We at present have two digital newsletters each week – a information and opinion version on Monday and an arts and leisure one on Thursday – and envision increasing that to day by day weekday protection.
We’ll even be including a full-time reporter July 7 when our Report for America corps member joins us. We’re teaming up with this nationwide service program to fill essential information gaps in our neighborhood with a gifted, next-generation journalist (see p. 12).
Whereas the general state of the information trade could also be dire, we consider that Illinois Instances can’t solely survive one other 50 years and past, however develop and enhance protection of our neighborhood and the encompassing space. As we enter our sixth decade, we owe our legacy to the loyal readers and advertisers who’ve supported us all this time, and we hope that the neighborhood shares our imaginative and prescient for extra reporting on the matters that matter most to the residents of central Illinois.
Illinois Instances to host Report for America corps member
Report for America is a nationwide service program that locations journalists in native newsrooms to report on under-covered points and communities. It is a two-year program (with an choice for a 3rd yr and/or transitioning right into a everlasting place) and is a aggressive course of for each the taking part newsrooms and younger journalists. Final yr, greater than 1,000 purposes from corps members have been obtained.
Their confirmed partnership mannequin is structured to harness the talents and idealism of an rising group of journalists plus the inventive spirit of native information organizations like ours. Past paying as much as half of the journalists’ salaries, Report for America gives ongoing coaching and mentorship by main journalists, peer networking and memberships to pick out skilled organizations.
This was the primary yr that IT utilized to be a number newsroom, becoming a member of an increasing networking of greater than 400 newsrooms nationwide benefiting from the help of this nonprofit program. Greater than 100 newsrooms will make up the 2025-2026 cohort, with three-quarters partnering with Report for America as conventional host newsrooms for corps members and a choose group collaborating in a pilot accelerator program to develop sustainable enterprise fashions by native philanthropy.
“This marks an thrilling enlargement of our confirmed mannequin,” mentioned Kim Kleman, govt director of Report for America. “Not solely are we recruiting and putting distinctive journalists in communities that want them most, however we’re considerably growing our efforts to assist newsrooms turn out to be extra financially secure.”
The 66 incoming host newsroom companions signify among the highest want areas for native information. Highlights of this cohort embrace:
A majority (59%) are small newsrooms like IT, with 9 or fewer editorial staffers.
Protection of rural communities, the atmosphere and native authorities are probably the most requested beats of this group.
Sixty-five p.c are nonprofit newsrooms; 35% are for revenue.
Greater than half (57%) are new newsroom companions with Report for America; the remainder have had a number of corps members beforehand.
Greater than 82% of corps members proceed to work within the area after program completion. With almost half of Report for America journalists figuring out as journalists of coloration, excessive charges of retention are important to a reworked information panorama. Report for America is an initiative of The Floor Reality Venture, an award-winning nonprofit journalism group devoted to rebuilding journalism from the bottom up.
To make this initiative profitable, we’d like monetary help from native organizations, companies and people such as you. To be a Report for American host newsroom, Illinois Instances has to offer $35,000 in yr one to assist fund the wage for the corps member. Your contribution – whether or not by a one-time donation or ongoing help – will assist make sure that our neighborhood has devoted reporting, providing fact-based, related and well timed information protection. Together with your help, we are able to protect the integrity of native journalism and strengthen civic engagement inside our neighborhood. It’s possible you’ll contribute at illinoistimes.com/communityjournalism or mail a test to Illinois Instances, 1240 S. Sixth St., Springfield, IL, 62703.
