Feder: Daily Herald chosen for ProPublica Local Reporting Network

The Daily Herald has been selected to participate in the ProPublica Local Reporting Network, a program aimed at strengthening investigative journalism at local and regional news organizations.

The Daily Herald was one of 14 news organizations and reporters nationwide announced as winners Wednesday.

The Daily Herald, which was chosen from among more than 215 newsrooms that applied, will work closely with the staff of ProPublica Illinois to deliver investigative journalism on state government and politics. The network, which has doubled since its inception in 2018, pays the salaries and an allowance for benefits for reporters to work on accountability projects.

The only other participant from the state is reporter Rachel Otwell of Illinois Newsroom, a regional journalism collaboration based in Urbana and supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and McCormick Foundation.

“While the past year has seen yet more cutbacks at local news organizations, the ProPublica Local Reporting Network has been a bright spot nationally,” ProPublica senior editor Charles Ornstein said in a statement. “We couldn't be happier with the accountability journalism produced by our inaugural class and are excited to pursue another year of investigative projects with moral force.”

ProPublica, an independent, nonprofit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest, has received four Pulitzer Prizes, three Peabody Awards, two Emmy Awards and five George Polk Awards since its began in 2008.