About the Chicago Journal

About

To learn more about the idea and philosophy behind this project, read About This Site.

Notes on the Great American City

The Chicago Journal relaunched again in the spirit of a city that never stops relaunching itself. From a riverside trading outpost near Wolf Point to today, Chicago has always been a place where big ideas collide with grit, then get argued about...and argued about and argued about and argued about...over coffee, Old Style, or a late-night hot dog or pizza. This site exists to keep that debate alive, independent, and unfiltered.

We are now primarily an outlet for opinion, comment, and narrative features that cut through the din on Michigan Avenue, the whirr of the El, and the quiet of distant suburbs. Straight news may still appear here when a tip lands square on our desk or when we uncover a story the major outlets miss, but most everything will be delivered as essays, reported columns, and long-form pieces that reach beyond the day’s headlines.

Who We Serve

Readers who value spirited, good-faith debate.
People who prize place and memory in taverns, block clubs, choirs, bookshops, and commuter rails that stitch nine counties together.
Those who enjoy prose that mixes street-level detail with historical vantage.

Whether you ride the Red Line daily, farm soy near DeKalb, or read us on a distant shore and think of the lake that still tugs at your heart, you are welcome here.

How We Operate

Written and edited by Craig Walker under the Challenge Media banner, the Chicago Journal rests on the following pillars.

Editorial Independence. No hedge-fund ownership, no municipal grants, no political handlers, just reader support.
Subscriber Support. A modest suggested donation ($12/year) keeps the servers humming and limits ads to a polite minimum.
Community Involvement. Letters, tips, and local voices guide everything we do.
Radical Transparency. Sources are cited, corrections are logged, sponsored pieces are labeled, and our editorial code is public.

Media Inquiries and Requests

If you would like to contact our editor and any writer who appears, please message us at editor@chicagojournal.com or reach out through our Contact page.

To request a media appearance, please email us with "MEDIA REQUEST" in the subject line.

Reprints and Licensing

Materials originally published in the Chicago Journal are available for reprint in both print and online publications. If you are interested in licensing our work, please contact our editor, Craig Walker, at editor@chicagojournal.com.

Each request will be considered on an individual basis. We reserve the right to refuse any request.