FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chicago, IL – February 12, 2025 – Chicago Southsider, a local news startup based on Chicago’s Southside, is proud to announce its selection for the 3rd cohort of the Northwestern Medill Local News Accelerator program.
This accelerator marks a significant milestone in Chicago Southsider’s mission to deliver impactful, locally focused content in an evolving digital landscape. As part of the Local News Accelerator, Chicago Southsider will launch and test AI-generated podcast episodes through “South Side Untold,” a groundbreaking series designed to highlight untold stories from the community using state-of-the-art digital tools.
“We are incredibly honored to be selected for the Medill Local News Accelerator program,” said Charlene Rhinehart, Publisher of Chicago Southsider. “This opportunity not only enhances our reporting capabilities but also enables us to collaborate with a talented graduate fellow—bringing fresh perspectives and innovative digital strategies to our new podcast series. We will be better positioned to engage younger audiences and further our commitment to shedding light on the stories that matter most to Chicago’s Southside communities. This accelerator will be instrumental in our goal of reaching our first 1,000 YouTube subscribers.”
Reimagining local news for every Chicagoan
The Medill Local News Accelerator is a signature program at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, founded with the goal of arming community news organizations with the information and tools they need to grow, innovate, and serve the Chicago news ecosystem—especially at a time of historic transformation. The Accelerator is dedicated to empowering community-focused outlets with strategies, coaching, and the resources required to develop innovative and much needed solutions in today’s news landscape.
The accelerator program is scheduled to commence in Spring 2025, during which Chicago Southsider will participate in a series of expert-led workshops, strategic planning sessions, and collaborative networking events with other local news innovators. This intensive program will refine Chicago Southsider’s operational strategies, expand its digital presence, and ensure its content remains accessible and relevant in today’s fast-paced media environment.
About Chicago Southsider
Chicago Southsider is a Facebook Bulletin newsletter-turned-community news platform dedicated to “unlocking the other side of Chicago’s South Side, one community at a time.” Founded in 2021, our mission is to amplify the stories, perspectives, and experiences of South Side communities. Through solutions journalism and community-driven storytelling, we challenge the narrow “Chiraq” stereotypes, offering deeper and more authentic narratives about Chicago’s South Side.
Chicago Southsider’s weekly newsletter reaches over 30,000 subscribers, sharing local events and businesses, South Side history, and solutions journalism. Our reporting sweet spot is housing—from the Great Migration to the Fair Housing Act to redevelopment on Chicago’s South Side, we dive into the intersection of housing and history and provide resources to educate and inform decision-making.
📘 Facebook: Chicago Southsider
📸 Instagram: @chisouthsider
▶️ YouTube: The Chicago Southsider
🎧 Spotify: Chicago Southsider Podcast
Media Contact:
Charlene Rhinehart
Publisher, Chicago Southsider
Email: hello@chicagosouthsider.com
For additional information about Chicago Southsider’s participation in the Northwestern Medill Local News Accelerator program, please subscribe to chicagosouthsider.substack.com or read more at www.chicagosouthsider.com.
