Chicago Public Media Pilots Local Platform

Chicago.com soft-launched on October 7, 2026, as a neighborhood-focused online platform in five pilot communities.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Media

Bold vector editorial illustration of rooftops in a ring around a courtyard, linked by rope between chimneys, in coral, teal, and mustard. — Chicago Public Media soft-launched chicago.com on October 7, 2026, a neighborhood platform piloting in five communities as an alternative to for-profit social media. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you trust local online community platforms more than Facebook or Nextdoor for neighborhood information?

Chicago Public Media soft-launched chicago.com on October 7, 2026, an online platform built around local communities. The pilot runs in Avondale, Bronzeville, Edgewater/Andersonville, South Shore, and Evanston.

Why it matters

The platform is designed as an alternative to for-profit social media, aiming to support civic discourse in a less toxic environment. Its launch follows the organization's 2022 acquisition of the Chicago Sun-Times and recent newsroom and staffing changes.

More than 4,000 people joined waitlists before the first five communities launched, and the Edgewater Facebook group the platform draws from has about 11,000 members. Chicago Public Media has not disclosed user totals or the budget for the project.

The players

Chicago Public Media

Chicago Public Media is the nonprofit parent organization that owns the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ and is behind the chicago.com launch.

New_Public

New_Public is a tech nonprofit that partnered with Chicago Public Media to pilot the chicago.com launch.

Chicago Community Trust

The Chicago Community Trust is a local philanthropic foundation that gifted the inactive chicago.com domain to Chicago Public Media.

The details

Each community has an events calendar, user-generated guides, a neighbor forum moderated by a paid local resident, and a weekly steward-curated newsletter. The platform also curates headlines from the Sun-Times, WBEZ, and other outlets, and the inactive chicago.com domain was gifted by the Chicago Community Trust, which did not disclose the gift's value.

2022: Chicago Public Media acquired the Sun-Times and converted it to nonprofit status.
2024: Layoffs largely affecting WBEZ staff and programming occurred.
2025: The Sun-Times cut 20% of its news staff through buyouts.
October 7, 2026: Chicago.com soft-launched as a pilot platform.
Spring or summer 2027: Chicago.com expects to add more communities.

Market Landscape

Chicago.com extends the nonprofit model Chicago Public Media adopted when it converted the Sun-Times in 2022, moving from newsroom ownership into a community platform. The pilot positions the organization as an alternative to for-profit social media platforms in local civic life.

Residents in the five pilot communities can use the events calendars, guides, forums, and weekly newsletters to follow local activity. The platform's expansion timeline means other Chicago neighborhoods will have access to these tools in the coming year.

The takeaway

Chicago.com shows how a nonprofit media group is testing whether community-focused platforms can serve as a less toxic alternative to social media. Its success will depend on whether it can grow beyond the pilot neighborhoods while staying close to break-even.

What happens next

Chicago.com expects to add more communities in spring or summer 2027, and Chicago Public Media plans to hire a permanent general manager for the platform.