Harry Backlund

@City_Bureau Co-founder and Operations Director. Former publisher + forever booster @SouthSideWeekly. Move slow and build things.

[Harry Backlund @hdbacklund]

Last week I wrote this essay about the need for a structural approach to journalism. The response—especially from young mediamakers—has given me new hope for what journalism can be.

If you're into the idea check out our @city_bureau newsletter here: https://t.co/arJTdPD4HS

[City Bureau @city_bureau]

Is your journalism a luxury or necessity? CB cofounder @hdbacklund says we need a new framework to prioritize news & info that fulfills fundamental needs: an information hierarchy of needs https://t.co/i1e8XrXfnC

[City Bureau @city_bureau]

🎉 In partnership with @cookcountygov, we are thrilled to to unveil the inaugural recipients of the Digital Equity IMPACT Small Grants Program—15 organizations that are working to bridge the digital divide and promote digital inclusion across the County.
https://t.co/vRpt30s1F2

[Andrea Faye Hart @lenifaye]

I love getting my @TheTRiiBE newsletter. Join me in signing up if you’re seeking a reliable news source that is joyful and inspires action. https://t.co/w78B1vW92a

[Working Families Party 🐺 @WorkingFamilies]

YOU HEARD US!

[Victor Pickard @VWPickard]

When we put this book together in 2010-2011, we were dismissed by many U.S. liberals and libertarians as being overly alarmist and pessimistic. One group of cultural sociologists chided critiques such as ours for being too materialist in our gloomy analysis.

[Harry Backlund @hdbacklund]

❤️👏🏼 Oh man what to even say @bechang8!

Co-creating with you has been a joy of the job for almost a decade, and you've profoundly shaped so many people's paths in journalism—mine included.

I'm so grateful for the clarity and care you bring to editing, leadership, and life. ✨

[Bettina Chang @bechang8]

Friends, with so much love in my heart, I'm sharing that I have stepped down from @city_bureau after 9 incredible years. This fall I'll join @jskstanford to continue the good fight 💪 It's been an indescribable journey, so excuse my sentimentality... https://t.co/BIYRl03JrB

[Harry Backlund @hdbacklund]

Along with the incredible reporting that went into their Pulitzer Prize winning investigation both @trinattrill and @sarahanneconway are also mentoring so many young people through their work.

More than a "story" this is care work that will resonate through generations. 👏🏼

[Bettina Chang @bechang8]

The incredible @sarahanneconway and @trinattrill bring home THE BIG ONE! 🏆 Can't think of two more deserving reporters -- tenacious, compassionate, a joy to work with. "We don't do it for the awards" is almost a cliché at this point but it is TRUE, so let me share a lil more...

[Bettina Chang @bechang8]

The incredible @sarahanneconway and @trinattrill bring home THE BIG ONE! 🏆 Can't think of two more deserving reporters -- tenacious, compassionate, a joy to work with. "We don't do it for the awards" is almost a cliché at this point but it is TRUE, so let me share a lil more...

[Harry Backlund @hdbacklund]

@Cande313 @media_outlier @orlandopbailey @Cande313 just the biggest love and congratulations—you've supported and inspired so many of us. 🙏🏼❤️

[City Bureau @city_bureau]

We're so proud of @sarahanneconway and @invinst's @trinattrill! Congrats to our reporting team on their Izzy Award win for #ChicagoMissingPersons!

Check out the full investigation here: https://t.co/QtA3Y6mTOB

[City Bureau @city_bureau]

✨ Big news!✨ Today we’re thrilled to officially welcome Morgan Malone as our new Executive Director! https://t.co/jV10kuNetH

[Victor Pickard @VWPickard]

My 2024 @NiemanLab "prediction" calls for finally reckoning with journalism's political economy. If we did, we'd understand that "the market’s hidden hand is the greatest censor of them all." https://t.co/O28BZVOkC3

[City Bureau @city_bureau]

🎉 Congrats to our friends & partners receiving #PressForward @macfound grants, including @media_outlier @DetDocumenters!

This funding will bolster:
✅critical accountability journalism
✅ capacity to address info needs in underserved communities
✅ more equitable newsrooms

[Javonte Anderson @JavonteA]

Okay, I'm a little emotional 🥲 @capitalb_gary is live! So much hard work was put into this. Please visit our site! 🎉🎊🎉

https://t.co/plGy9NYT1w

[Harry Backlund @hdbacklund]

"Over eight years leading together we’ve often been exhausted, but leadership for us has never been lonely. The joy of working and learning together gave us the resilience to build."

Feeling so much love today for @bechang8 @d_holli and @lenifaye. It's been a ride.

[Harry Backlund @hdbacklund]

📢A true dream job alert...

City Bureau is hiring our first Executive Director!

It's been an honor to co-found and co-lead @city_bureau and I'm so deeply excited about how we're evolving. ✨

Please share this with the leader in your life who needs to see it! 🙏🏼

[City Bureau @city_bureau]

🗣️ Big news today! After 8 years of a co-leadership structure, we’re searching for our first Executive Director to help us define the next era of growth.

Read why we’re evolving and help us find the right person! https://t.co/4Ao5HQmvuc

[Harry Backlund @hdbacklund]

@sarahalvarezMI Information needs though...

[Harry Backlund @hdbacklund]

🎯

[Mike Rispoli @RispoliMike]

🚨With the announcement of #PressForward and $500million going to local news, now's the time to do big things, expand civic media & break away from a backward-looking approach on what local news used to be. There's work ahead, and we need to get organized. https://t.co/IK9ZrHSjsW

[Harry Backlund @hdbacklund]

Big congrats to @_ManuelRamos_ and @BlockClubCHI both! Can't wait to see the work

[City Bureau @city_bureau]

✨️ Congrats to former Civic Reporting fellow @_ManuelRamos_! We're excited to see how this new investigative team reports on our city 🔎

[City Bureau @city_bureau]

It is unknown to the public how many #ChicagoMissingPersons have been found safe or deceased.

An investigation between @invinst & CB aims for more transparency.

Filmmaker @aspire4gr8ness's documentary on offers a peek into the work, now up at SSCAC. https://t.co/JtD38qnPNU

[City Bureau @city_bureau]

🧵 On @d_holli's last day as our Director of National Impact, we are sending him off with memories of working with him across City Bureau.

We know we'll keep building this movement together. Check out this thread of mems and add your own! 👇