The Chicago Community Trust announced a one-year, $247,000 Local Reporting Initiative to “stimulate a wave of new reporting and analysis” if issues affecting communities on the south and west sides of Chicago.

“High quality reporting and analysis is the lifeblood of civic life,” said Ngoan Le, vice president of program for The Chicago Community Trust. “With so many important decisions affecting our city, county and state in the coming year, it’s essential that citizens and policy-makers know what’s at stake.“

The Trust is a two-time Community Information Challenge winner. It has commissioned in depth research about the news and information ecosystem that is emerging in Chicago as traditional media decline. The Trust uses its research to inform strategic grant making to fill important news and information gaps.

Read more about the new initiative here.