ABSTRACT
At the beginning of 2022, the station WBEZ, owned by Chicago Public Media, bought the Chicago Sun-Times, saying the acquisition created one of the largest nonprofit news organizations in the US The press release said philanthropic support from local and national foundations and individuals who “share a belief in journalism’s critical role in informing the public, strengthening local communities, and safeguarding democracy”. The purchase of the Sun-Times by Chicago Public Media reflected much of what had been evolving in the news industry for more than a decade. The current system of US public broadcasting was created by Congress in 1967. The activity since 2009 came after public media came under sharp criticism from “The Reconstruction of American Journalism Report” and a Knight Commission on community information needs, both published in 2009. The business model for the stations is largely based on individuals donations, often linked to memberships, foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, and events.
