Chicago-area Online News Site Survey Results Released

The second annual "NEW News" report, produced by Community Media Workshop and funded by The Chicago Community Trust's Community News Matters program, surveyed 121 online news outlets on matters ranging from salaried employees to the type of content produced. According to the report, most online sites surveyed rely heavily on unpaid bloggers and reporters and piggy-bank financing.

More than 60% had only one full-time staffer. A similar percentage reported no one receiving health insurance from their online news outlet. The report also shows the Chicago area's online news ecosystem is "still growing, evolving and retooling," Chicago Community Trust CEO Terry Mazany said in a statement. "Through our work with the John S. and James Knight Foundation's Community Information Challenge, The Chicago Community Trust is committed to examining how the rapidly changing media landscape is impacting the residents of our region. The NEW News report helps us understand the sources and availability of information in our community and whether or not it is meeting the needs of residents." The report contains the survey's findings and list of 146 outlets identified as online news sites, which give an idea of the diversity in size, content, format and issue area of Chicago's online news ecosystem. While the report show more competition than ever for news consumers said Community Media Workshop President Thom Clark, "the roadmap for vetted, authoritative information that frames the public debate is still being charted."