Developing educated, informed, and engaged citizens.

Democracy Program

Our Program Mission

Strengthen democracy in Illinois through informed and engaged citizens and communities, vigorous and independent journalism, and responsive systems of government.

Our Goals

Local journalism is vigorous, independent, and effective at informing the public and holding institutions accountable
Youth are informed, actively participate in their communities, and have healthy civic dispositions
Public institutions are inclusive, transparent, and accountable to the communities they serve

Our Approach

A healthy democracy is dependent upon informed and engaged citizens and communities, and responsive systems of government.

Our Foundation has its roots in journalism, with the founding of the anti-slavery Chicago Tribune in 1847. Col. Robert R. McCormick explained the role of the newspaper in a quote carved in the lobby of Tribune Tower:

The newspaper is an institution developed by modern civilization to present the news of the day, to foster commerce and industry, to inform and lead public opinion, and to furnish that check upon government which no constitution has ever been able to provide.

We continue the mission of supporting journalism through our Democracy Program. A healthy democracy is dependent on informed and engaged citizens. Without them, there is no “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” Local journalism plays a critical role.

We support news outlets to broaden and deepen public affairs reporting; strengthen supports available to them to enhance entrepreneurship, collaboration, and community engagement in local reporting; invest in reporters to improve capacity and racial/ethnic diversity; and enhance press freedom to ensure independent and effective reporting.

We foster youth engagement through developing their civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions in school settings. This includes formal instruction in civics incorporating best practices in civic learning, news literacy included. It also encompasses scholastic journalism and student media programs, alongside other schoolwide opportunities for student voice and representation.

We build leadership capacity within public institutions; ensure their accountability, transparency, and effectiveness; and deepen participation and inclusion in our democracy through elections and voting, policymaking processes, and discrete opportunities like Census 2020.