CORE SERVICES
NONPROFIT BUSINESS KIT
RESOURCE LIBRARY
Whether you have questions about starting a fund, applying for a grant, or exploring ways to give back to your community, 
Welcome to the 
Earlier this month, The Foundation for Northwest Illinois attended the Illinois Local News Summit in Chicago, co-hosted by Press Forward Chicago and Press Forward Springfield. This first-of-its-kind event brought together civic and community leaders, academics, policymakers, and the foundation and philanthropy sectors to help address the continued decline of credible, local news and information throughout our State.
During his opening keynote, Governor J. B. Pritzker noted to the room of over 350 attendees that journalism is “the first rough draft of history”. Having started my career in the newsroom of The (Freeport) Journal-Standard in the 1990s when it boasted a rotating pool of 30-plus local reporters, editors, and photographers, I wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment.
Our region was a different landscape when it had The Journal Standard communicating breaking news, holding leaders accountable, and recording our region’s story – good and bad – six days a week. In the context of civic health and community development, it served vital role. A vibrant local media outlet is the connective tissue that binds a population into a community and a community into a functioning democracy.
At its core, journalism acts as a watchdog of democracy. By collecting, verifying, and distributing information, journalists hold those in power accountable. And in a parallel lane, journalism acts as a community advocate, or cheerleader, if you will. Journalism records the stories̶—good and bad—that instill community pride and breed community action. It does this through a transparent, fact-based veil, because that final element— transparency—is that which enables a community’s citizens to make informed decisions about matters that mean the most to them.
Cedarville native and Nobel laureate Jane Addams understood this. In her 1902 writing Democracy and Social Ethics, Addams argued that for a democracy to function, citizens must possess enough “social knowledge” to understand the lives of people different from themselves. The vehicle used on this path of knowledge, she continued, was journalism: “The newspaper, the magazine, and the book are largely used for this purpose: to enable a man to see farther, to know all sorts of men, and to provide him with a preparation for better social adjustment.”
Beyond the accountability role, journalism is a driver of community development. This is the community advocate or cheerleader role. Local news outlets serve as a “town square” where community identity is forged and reinforced.
By highlighting local successes, human-interest stories, and cultural events, journalism creates a shared narrative, which ultimately strengthens social cohesion. Local news and information also communicate on what is actively being done to solve problems, thereby shifting community perspective from glass half empty to glass half full. And lastly, local reporting on business, infrastructure, and industry convey messages of economic health and opportunity, encouraging local investment and further growth.
The industry may have transitioned to different models from those noted by Jane Addams, but the message remains the same. There is direct link between the decline of reputable local news and information and the decline of civic health. And it is the responsibility of the citizenry— all of us—to support robust, ethical journalism at all levels, to be smart consumers of information, and above all, to investment in the stability and prosperity of our communities.
Moving forward, The Foundation for Northwest Illinois is committed to ensuring our region’s “rough draft of history” remains bold and accurate. By maintaining an active seat at the table with initiatives like Press Forward and partnering with industry innovators, we are working to identify sustainable models for local news that fit the unique needs of our corner of the state. We will continue to engage with thought leaders, local stakeholders, and philanthropic resources to bridge the gap between our storied past and a digitally resilient future. Together, we can ensure that the “town square” remains open, the narrative stays local, and our democracy continues to thrive.