Media in Chicago
The Chicago metropolitan area (the Chicago Market) commands the third-largest media market in the United States after New York City and Los Angeles and the largest inland market.[1] All of the major U.S. television networks have subsidiaries in Chicago. WGN-TV, which is owned by the Tribune Media Company, is carried (with some programming differences) as "WGN America" on cable and satellite nationwide. Sun-Times Media Group is also headquartered in Chicago, which, along with Tribune Publishing, are some the largest owners of daily newspapers in the country.
History
Journalists, novelists, architects, engineers, business tycoons, scientists, poets, sports teams, criminals, and millions of laborers shaped Chicago's national and international reputation. Images and representations are important means by which the city is known and negotiated. During the years of rapid urbanization between 1890 and 1930, numerous daily newspapers presented the most important and pervasive versions of the city.
Among the significant innovations of Chicago's newspapers in these years that shaped the idea of the city was the emergence of the local color columnist. Groeninger (2005) examines the role of columnists in Chicago newspapers in creating a "city of the mind." After a review of the literature on images of cities, the relationship of newspapers to modern city life in the thought of Robert Park, and the world of Chicago's newspapers at the turn of the 20th century, detailed studies of a number of the most important columnists of the era follow. George Ade's column of the 1890s in the Daily News, "Stories of the Streets and of the Town," presented a view of Chicago from the perspective of migrants from the small towns of the Midwest. In the same decade Finley Peter Dunne's column in the Evening Post, featuring the fictional Irish barkeeper, Mr. Dooley, offered readers a literary version of the Irish working-class neighborhood of Bridgeport. Ring Lardner's Tribune sports column of the teens, "In the Wake of the News," satirized not only Chicagoans obsession with sports, but also the middle-class culture of opera, musical theater, and the newspaper itself. Several columns in the black newspaper, The Whip, offered images of Bronzeville in the 1920s that both reflected and helped shape the experience of African-Americans on the South Side of Chicago. Ben Hecht's "1001 Afternoons in Chicago" column in the Daily News expressed a new, anti-Victorian sensibility in the post-war era, but his most enduring contributions to the image of Chicago were on the stage and in the new medium of film. The columnists who wrote about everyday life in the city were the most distinctive and powerful newspaper voices in shaping the idea of Chicago and the civic personality of the city itself.[2]
Newspapers
Two major daily newspapers are published in Chicago, The Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times. The former has the larger circulation. There are also a number of regional and special-interest newspapers such as the Daily Herald (Arlington Heights), SouthtownStar, the Chicago Defender, RedEye, Third Coast Press and the Chicago Reader.
Weekly
- Chicago News
- Chicago Crusader
- Chicago Defender
- Chicago Reader
- N'Digo
- Newcity
- RedEye
Community
- Austin Voice
- Austin Weekly News
- Back-of-Yards Journal
- Beverly News
- Beverly Review
- Bridgeport News
- Brighton Park Life
- Chicago Citizen Newspapers
- Chicago News Russian - Новости Чикаго
- Chicago Free Press
- The Chicago Independent Bulletin
- Chicago Journal
- The Chicago Maroon
- Chicago Shimpo
- Chicago Standard
- Clear Ridge Reporter
- Dziennik Związkowy (Polish Daily News)
- Edgebrook Times
- Edison Review
- Exito
- Extra
- The Gate
- The Gazette
- Greek Star
- Hyde Park Herald
- Inside-Booster
- Korean News
- Korean Times
- La Raza
- La Voz de Chicago
- Lawndale News
- Logan Square Times
- Lumpen
- McKinley Park Life
- Mt. Greenwood Express
- Nadig Press-Journal
- Near North News
- New Metro News
- News-Star
- North Lawndale Community News
- North Loop News
- Northwest Leader-Post
- Norwood Review
- River North News
- Sauganash Sounds
- Scottsdale Independent
- Shoreland News
- Skyline
- Super Express USA
- Third Coast Press
- Tri-City Journal
- Westside Journal
- World Journal
Business, legal, entertainment and other local periodicals
- Bar Fly
- Chicago magazine
- Chicago Computer Guide
- Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
- Chicago Educator
- Chicago Innerview
- Chicago Journal of International Law
- Chicago Life
- Chicago Parent
- The Chicago Reporter
- Chicagoland Golf
- Crain's Chicago Business
- Jettison Quarterly
- PerformInk
- South Shore Parent
- Time Out Chicago
- UR Chicago
- Windy City Times
Defunct newspapers
- Chicago Daily News
- Chicago Free Press
- Chicago Inter Ocean
- Chicago's American
- Gay Chicago
- Gay Chicago News
- Red Streak
- Southeast Chicago Observer
Radio stations
According to Nielsen Audio, Chicago is America's third largest radio market, trailing New York and Los Angeles.
AM
Frequency | Callsign | Branding | Format | Owner |
---|---|---|---|---|
560 | WIND | AM 560 The Answer | News/conservative talk | Salem Communications |
670 | WSCR | The Score Sports Radio | Sports talk | Entercom |
720 | WGN | News/Talk 720 | News/talk/sports | Tribune Company |
750 | WNDZ | Access Radio Chicago | Brokered programming | Newsweb Corporation |
780 | WBBM | Newsradio 780 & 105.9 | All-news radio | Entercom |
820 | WCPT | Chicago's Progressive Talk | Progressive talk | Newsweb Corporation |
890 | WLS | 89 WLS | News/talk radio | Cumulus Media |
930 | WKBM | Relevant Radio | Christian radio | Starboard Broadcasting |
950 | WNTD | Relevant Radio | Catholic Teaching | M&S WNTD, LLC |
1000 | WMVP | Chicago ESPN Radio 1000 | Sports talk | The Walt Disney Company |
1030 | WNVR | Polskie Radio Chicago | World ethnic | Polnet Communications |
1080 | WNWI | AP Radio | Ethnic radio | Birach Broadcasting Corporation |
1110 | WMBI | Moody Radio | Christian radio | Moody Radio |
1160 | WYLL | AM 1160 WYLL | Christian talk | Salem Communications |
1200 | WRTO | La Tremenda 1200 AM | Spanish news/talk | Univision Radio |
1220 | WKRS | ESPN Deportes 1220 | Spanish language sports | NextMedia Group |
1230 | WJOB | AM-1230 WJOB | News/talk/sports | Vazquez Development, LLC |
1240 | WSBC | Access Radio Chicago | Variety | Newsweb Corporation |
1270 | WWCA | Relevant Radio | Christian radio | Starboard Broadcasting |
1300 | WRDZ | Polskie Radio Chicago | World Ethnic | Polnet Communications |
1320 | WKAN | Talk AM 1320 | Talk/personality | Staradio |
1330 | WKTA | Chicago's Radio Station | World ethnic | Polnet Communications |
1340 | WJOL | 1340 WJOL | News/talk/sports | NextMedia Group |
1370 | WLTH | WeaLTH Radio | Community radio | WLTH Radio |
1390 | WGRB | Inspiration 1390 | Gospel music | iHeartMedia |
1410 | WRMN | The Radio Shopping Show | ||
1420 | WIMS | AM-1420 WIMS | News/talk | Gerard Media, LLC |
1450 | WCEV | 1450 AM WCEV | Ethnic talk | Migala Communications Corporation |
1490 | WPNA | Chicagoland's International Choice | Polish/ethnic | Alliance Communications |
1500 | WAKE | Oldies 1500 WAKE | Oldies/Classic Hits | Radio One Communications |
1500 | WPJX | Rebel Radio | Heavy Metal | Polnet Communications |
1510 | WWHN | WWHN 1510 AM | Urban contemporary gospel | Hawkins Broadcasting Company |
1530 | WCKG | Chicago's Hometown Station | Talk/brokered programming | Joseph J. Gentile |
1570 | WBGX | The Big Gospel Express | Gospel | Great Lakes Radio-Chicago, LLC |
1590 | WCGO | Serving Chicagoland's Diverse Communities | Ethnic | Kovas Communications, Inc. |
1690 | WVON | The Talk of Chicago | Urban talk | iHeartMedia |
FM
Frequency | Callsign | Branding | Format | Owner |
---|---|---|---|---|
87.7 | WRME-LP | 87.7 MeTV FM | Oldies | Venture Technologies Group |
88.1 | WCRX | 88.1FM WCRX, Chicago's Underground | Dance/Top 40/Hip hop | Columbia College Chicago |
88.1 | WLRA | 88.1FM WLRA, The Start | College Radio | Lewis University |
88.3 | WZRD | The Wizard | Freeform | Northeastern Illinois University |
88.3 | WXAV | WXAV 88.3 FM | College radio | Saint Xavier University |
88.5 | WHPK | WHPK 88.5 FM | College radio | University of Chicago |
88.7 | WLUW | Independent Community Radio | Community radio | Loyola University Chicago |
88.9 | WMXM | Lake Forest College Radio | College radio | Lake Forest College |
89.1 | WOKL | K-Love | Christian AC | Educational Media Foundation |
89.1 | WONC | Pure Rock FM 89 | Album-oriented rock | North Central College |
89.3 | WNUR-FM | WNUR 89.3 FM, Chicago's Sound Experiment | Variety | Northwestern University |
89.7 | WONU | Shine.FM | Contemporary Christian music | Olivet Nazarene University |
90.1 | WMBI-FM | Moody Radio | Christian radio | Moody Bible Institute |
90.9 | WDCB | 90.9 FM WDCB | Public radio/jazz | College of DuPage |
91.5 | WBEZ | Chicago Public Radio | Public radio | Chicago Public Media |
91.7 | WZKL | K-Love | Christian AC | Educational Media Foundation |
92.3 | WPWX | Power 92 | Mainstream urban | Crawford Broadcasting |
92.5 | WCLR | K-Love | Christian AC | Educational Media Foundation |
92.7 | WCPY | Chicago's Progressive Talk/ Dance Factory FM | Progressive talk (day); Dance Hits (night) | Newsweb Corporation |
93.1 | WXRT | 93XRT, Chicago's Finest Rock | Adult album alternative | Entercom |
93.5 | WVIV-FM | Latino Mix 103.1 / 93.5 | Spanish urban | Univision Radio |
93.9 | WLIT-FM | 93.9 Lite FM | Adult contemporary | iHeartMedia |
94.3 | WAWE | Air1 | Christian CHR | Educational Media Foundation |
94.7 | WLS-FM | Chicago's Classic Hits | Classic Hits | Cumulus Media |
95.1 | WIIL | 95 WIIL Rock | Active Rock | Alpha Media |
95.5 | WEBG | Big 95.5 | Country music | iHeartMedia |
95.9 | WERV-FM | 95.9 The River | Classic hits | NextMedia Group |
96.3 | WBBM-FM | B-96 | CHR/Top 40 | Entercom |
96.7 | WSSR | Star 96.7 | Adult contemporary | NextMedia Group |
96.9 | WWDV | The Drive | Classic rock | Hubbard Broadcasting |
97.1 | WDRV | The Drive | Classic rock | Hubbard Broadcasting |
97.9 | WCKL | K-LOVE | Contemporary Christian | Educational Media Foundation |
98.3 | WCCQ | 98.3 WCCQ | Country | NextMedia Group (NM Licensing LLC) |
98.7 | WFMT | 98.7 WFMT | Classical music | Window To The World Communications, Inc. |
99.5 | WUSN | US99 | Country music | Entercom |
99.9 | WYHI | Bible Broadcasting Network | Religious | Bible Broadcasting Network, Inc. |
100.3 | WSHE-FM | Chicago's WSHE 100.3 | Adult hits | Hubbard Broadcasting |
100.7 | WRXQ | 100.7 RXQ | Classic rock | NextMedia Group (NM Licensing LLC) |
101.1 | WKQX | 101 WKQX | Alternative rock | Merlin Media, LLC |
101.9 | WTMX | The Mix | Hot AC | Hubbard Broadcasting |
102.3 | WXLC | 102.3 XLC | Hot AC | NextMedia Group |
102.3 | WYCA | Rejoice 102.3 | Black gospel | Crawford Broadcasting Co. |
102.7 | WVAZ | Today's R&B & Old School V103 | Urban AC | iHeartMedia |
103.1 | WPNA-FM | Polish music | Polish National Alliance | |
103.5 | WKSC-FM | 103–5 Kiss FM | CHR/Top 40 | iHeartMedia |
104.3 | WBMX | 104.3 JAMS | Classic hip hop | Entercom |
104.7 | WCFL | Family Friendly WBGL | Christian AC | Illinois District Council of the Assemblies of God |
105.1 | WOJO | La Que Buena 105.1 | Regional Mexican | Univision Radio |
105.9 | WCFS-FM | News Radio 780 & 105.9 | All-news radio | CBS Radio |
106.3 | WSRB | Soul 106.3 | Urban talk/Urban AC | Crawford Broadcasting (Dontron, Inc.) |
107.5 | WGCI-FM | 107.5 WGCI, #1 For Hip hop & R&B | Urban contemporary | iHeartMedia |
107.9 | WLEY-FM | La Ley 107.9 | Regional Mexican | Spanish Broadcasting System |
Television stations
Local broadcast stations
Network owned-and-operated stations are highlighted in bold.
Channel | Callsign | Affiliation | Subchannels | Owner | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Channel | Programming | ||||
2 | WBBM-TV | CBS | 2.2 2.3 |
Start TV Dabl |
CBS Television Stations (ViacomCBS) |
5 | WMAQ-TV | NBC | 5.2 | Cozi TV | NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations (NBCUniversal) |
7 | WLS-TV | ABC | 7.2 | Localish | ABC Owned Television Stations (The Walt Disney Company) |
9 | WGN-TV | Independent | 9.2 9.3 9.4 |
Antenna TV Court TV TBD |
Nexstar Media Group |
11 | WTTW | PBS | 11.2 11.3 11.4 |
WTTW Prime Create/World PBS Kids |
Window to the World Communications, Inc. |
13 | WOCK-CD | Infomercials | 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5/13.8 13.6 13.7 |
KBS America Z Living Scene Network Arirang TV KBS World Sonlife |
KM Communications |
20 | WYCC | First Nations Experience | Window to the World Communications, Inc. | ||
23 | WWME-CD | MeTV | 23.2 | Heroes & Icons | Weigel Broadcasting |
24 | WPVN-CD | Azteca América | 24.2 24.3 24.4 24.5 24.6 |
BeIN Sports Xtra Blank Polvision MBC-D Korean (WIN-TV) |
HC2 Holdings |
26 | WCIU-TV | The CW | 26.2 26.3 26.4 26.5 26.6 27.7 |
The U (simulcast of WMEU-CD) MeTV(simulcast of WWME-CD) Heroes & Icons) Bounce TV Decades (TV network) Circle (soon) |
Weigel Broadcasting |
32 | WFLD | Fox | Fox Television Stations (Fox Corporation) | ||
34 | WEDE-CD | Religious independent/ AMGTV |
First United, Inc. | ||
35 | WWTO-TV | TBN | 35.2 35.3 35.4 |
Hillsong Channel Enlace Positiv |
Trinity Broadcasting Network |
38 | WCPX-TV | Ion Television | 38.2 38.3 38.4 38.5 38.6 |
Qubo ION Life ION Shop QVC HSN |
ION Media Networks |
40 | WESV-LD | Estrella TV | 40.2 | Inmigrante TV | Liberman Broadcasting |
44 | WSNS-TV | Telemundo | 44.2 | TeleXitos | NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations (NBCUniversal) |
48 | WMEU-CA | Independent | 48.2 48.3 48.4 |
Start TV (simulcast of WBBM-DT2) CBS(simulcast of WBBM-TV) Decades (simulcast of WCIU-DT6) |
Weigel Broadcasting |
50 | WPWR-TV | MyNetworkTV | Fox Television Stations (Fox Corporation) | ||
60 | WXFT-DT | UniMás | 60.2 60.3 |
Court TV Mystery Quest |
Univision Communications |
61 | WCHU-LP | Jewelry TV | Venture Technologies Group | ||
62 | WJYS | Independent | 62.2 62.3 62.4 62.5 62.6 62.7 62.8 62.9 62.10 |
Stadium Charge! Heartland QVC Spanish religious Jewerly TV ShopHQ HSN Religious (Simulcast of WEDE-CD) |
Oxford Media Group Inc. |
66 | WGBO-DT | Univision | 66.2 66.3 66.4 66.5 |
Laff GetTV Justice Network Grit |
Univision Communications |
Local independent cable channels
- Chicago Access Network Television, Public, educational, and government access (PEG) Channel
- Chicagoland Television (CLTV)
- NBC Sports Chicago
- WGN America (satellite only)
Government cable channels for Chicago are also carried on channels 23, 25, and 49.
Although EVINE Live does have over-the-air affiliates, it is not available via broadcast television in Chicago; however, is available on Comcast on channels 89 and 164 and RCN channel 193 in the Chicago market.
Online
- Better (formerly Make It Better)
- The Beachwood Reporter
- Block Club Chicago
- Chicago Daily Observer
- City Bureau
- Chicagoist (part of the Gothamist network – now defunct)
- ChicagoNow (Chicago Tribune-owned weblog community)
- DNAinfo Chicago (defunct)
- Gapers Block
- Huffington Post Chicago (local edition of Huffington Post)
- Patch.com Chicago Network
- Reddit Chicago
- South Side Weekly
- Chicago Morning Star
Media corporations
References
- "Nielsen Media 2009–2010 Local Market Estimates". Nielsen Media Research. Broadcast Employment Services. September 27, 2009. Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
- David V. Groeninger, "Chicago Imagined: The Role of Newspaper Columnists in Creating a City of the Mind, 1890–1930." PhD dissertation Loyola U., Chicago 2005. 280 pp. DAI 2005 66(5): 1925-A. DA3175764 Fulltext: ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. See also Sarah Susan Marcus, "Up from the Prairie: Depictions of Chicago and the Middle West in Popular Culture, 1865–1983." PhD dissertation U. of Wisconsin, Madison 2001. 445 pp. DAI 2001 62(4): 1554-1555-A. DA3012550 Fulltext: ProQuest Dissertations and Theses