CHICAGO — Chicago Public Media and The Chicago Community Trust today announced a new chapter for one of the city's most recognizable digital assets: chicago.com.
The Chicago Community Trust, the Chicago region’s community foundation, has gifted the chicago.com domain to Chicago Public Media to create a new digital home for Chicagoans — one designed to help people discover what's happening around them, connect with their communities and participate in the life of the city. The gift reflects a shared belief that a domain as iconic as chicago.com should belong to the people who call it home.
“chicago.com holds symbolic power for this city, and we’re excited to see that power put to work for the public,” said Andrea Sáenz, president and CEO of The Chicago Community Trust. “Alongside hyperlocal outlets across the city and suburbs, it can help build a digital hub in support of a more connected news and information ecosystem, a shared space that better equips residents to understand the issues shaping our lives, engage in civic life and strengthen our communities.”
For nearly a century, Chicago Public Media has evolved to meet the changing needs of Chicagoans. In 2022, they acquired the Chicago Sun-Times, saving a vitally important news source for the Chicago region and successfully transitioning it into a financially sustainable nonprofit news organization. Today, audience habits are changing as people increasingly discover information through search, social media, online communities and creators. And yet, many report difficulty accessing trusted local information and frustration with algorithmic-driven platforms. In response, building on the journalism and public service mission of WBEZ 91.5 and the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Public Media is launching chicago.com to help people address that information gap, connect with their communities and participate more fully in civic life in a space designed for positive engagement.
“Public media was built on the simple idea that some civic infrastructure is too important to leave to the market,” said Melissa Bell, CEO of Chicago Public Media. “chicago.com is the next step in the evolution of that idea: a shared home for our neighborhoods, built by Chicago, for Chicago. Chicago Public Media is grateful that The Chicago Community Trust has gifted chicago.com to the people of the city, and we are honored to be its steward.”
As Chicago Public Media's first brand designed specifically for digital audiences, chicago.com will bring together trusted local information, community knowledge, civic and cultural resources, and new opportunities for participation.
Ahead of chicago.com’s launch scheduled for the fall, Chicago Public Media is inviting Chicagoans to help shape its future. Beginning today, visitors can go to https://chicago.com to explore the vision for chicago.com, sign up for updates and early access, and participate in opportunities throughout the summer to share ideas and help inform what comes next.
“The people of Chicago deserve a shared online space as vibrant and welcoming as their city,” said Bell. “We’re announcing chicago.com today to invite them to help shape what our future looks like, together.”
chicago.com joining Chicago Public Media is a homecoming of sorts. In 2013, Wrapports, the then-owner of the Chicago Sun-Times, acquired chicago.com from local entrepreneur Josh Metnick, who acquired the domain name in 2001. Metnick originally acquired it from Karl Swartz who saw the potential for a citywide site in 1993. In 2017, Michael Ferro (former chairman of Wrapports) made a gift to The Chicago Community Trust to acquire the URL for the benefit of the people of Chicago.
About Chicago Public Media:
Chicago Public Media is a nonprofit organization committed to providing our community with accessible and trusted news, information and programming. Brought to life by the work of our independent local newsrooms — WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times — we envision a Chicago that is equitable, inclusive and vibrant. Together under the banner of Chicago Public Media, WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times reach more than 3.3 million people each week across the Chicago area through broadcast, print and digital platforms. For more information, visit chicagopublicmedia.org.
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