Real Chi Youth
by Marie Mendoza, Vicky Woodburn, and Maia Brown
Youth in Action
by Marie Mendoza, Vicky Woodburn, and Maia Brown
Caption for Photo: The view from Free Spirit Media's headquarters overlooks the Chicago skyline.
n his letter announcing the closing of DNAinfo, a popular neighborhood news website, Chief Executive Officer Joe Ricketts emphasized the importance of neighborhood storytelling in a time where many media outlets are more focused on making a profit rather than telling community stories.
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“I’m hopeful that in time, someone will crack the code on a business that can support exceptional storytelling for I believe telling those stories remains essential,” said Joe Ricketts, Chief Executive Officer and founder of DNAinfo.
North Lawndale’s Free Spirit Media appears to be answering Ricketts’ call for community storytelling. Located in the recently renovated Nichols Tower in Homan Square, Free Spirit Media aims to “[transform] media and society by providing
opportunities for emerging creators, primarily from communities of color, to produce and distribute original content and to pursue artistic, person and professional aspirations.”
Of the myriad of programs that Free Spirit Media offers, one of its most prominent is the creative workforce development program known as The Real Chi. With the intent of being a “learning newsroom,” The Real Chi gives young reporters from minority backgrounds a chance to refine and expand their community journalism skills while also promoting neighborhood stories.
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Real Chi reporters are given the freedom to delve into the stories that they are passionate about telling. As
they do so, they collaborate with each other to develop necessary journalism skills in a supportive teaching environment.
“We want to give communities a bullhorn, to challenge traditional ways of thinking, to uplift them in spite of whatever tries to cut them down, oppressors within all of these institutions, those of racism, sexism, classism and whiteness.”
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This assertion, taken from the The Real Chi’s mission statement, speaks to their intent of becoming a voice for Chicago communities that are highly stigmatized and villainized by the general public and mainstream media outlets. Rather than focusing on crime or violence, The Real Chi spotlights achievements and issues that these populations care about. By primarily focusing on local stories from the South and West sides of Chicago, The Real Chi humanizes people that are just that-- human.
Ebony Ellis, a reporter within a newsroom that is predominately people of color, never thought that she would be given a platform within the media industry where her voice as a black woman is amplified.
“I didn't think that something like [Free Spirit Media] would even exist. Being put in a place where youth, whether its teenagers or young adults, are put in a position where our stories, our opinions matter,” Ellis said.
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“Being a person of color, I feel like this feeling is amplified even more because here at The Real Chi we’re primarily focused on serving underserved communities and highlighting people in these communities.”
Pascal Sabino, in particular sought a news organization that focused on serving communities in Chicago rather than sensationalizing their violence and crime.
Left: Pascal Sabino glances over his notes while checking his facts with a source. Right: Chelsea Barry (right) and Briana Madden (left) edit their stories for the Real Chi
Meet the Real Chi Writers
Arlana, 23
Pascal, 25
Ebony, 21
Chelsea, 22
“We don't have stakeholders, We don't sell advertising, we don't need to write sensational news because we’re accountable to the community” said Sabino.
“We’re not being held accountable to our investors or to people who want to pay us to read out news. That means that the news that we produce is completely different.”
For Briana Madden, Free Spirit Media, gave her an environment where she could continue her education as a journalist.
“I don’t really know that there are true models of how to exist in this world as a journalist right. Everyone is sort of figuring it out, so to have an environment where everyone is at a different level but all supporting each other” said Madden.
“Yes, we have deadlines but the focus is more about how to be a good community journalist rather than churning out stories.”
Traditionally, the voices of teenagers and young adults have been undervalued and underrepresented in news media. According to a study from the Young Researcher Network, around 75% of young people don’t feel their views are well represented by national print or television news media, and 78% feel that the majority of youth portrayal in news media is negative.
What percent of media coverage of young people do you feel is negative?
"Every time you look in the news or even on, like, Instagram, you see things about how young people are ruining the economy or too obsessed with ourselves or other generalized things like that." said Northwestern freshman Quinn Stiefbold.
"We get a really bad rap, but I feel like a lot of us are trying to make change and do well just like other generations."
Via programs like The Real Chi, Free Spirit media is giving young people the tools to challenge these misconceptions and empowering them to create their own narratives. Through recent movements such as #NeverAgain, teenagers are finally being recognized as a crucial influence on American politics. It’s only fitting that they also come to the forefront in shaping American news media. In a time where youth-led political movements are heard now more than ever, The Real Chi strives to create a youth-led media that is ready and willing to cover them.