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A Live Webinar with Hermene Hartman

On a Mission: How Chicago's Media Could Unite Our Divided City

Please join us for a LIVE WEBINAR conversation with Hermene Hartman

Chicago's media scene has plunged into a period of great change: The Tribune, now owned by a hedge fund, has lost dozens of experienced reporters. The Sun Times, recently acquired by Chicago Public Media, will become a nonprofit newspaper--completely uncharted territory. Meanwhile, young people now get their news largely through curated social media. Hermene Hartman, publisher of Chicago's N'DIGO, insists that a strong, independent press is essential to a functioning democracy. But she has also long held that our local media has played a part in dividing our city by race and geography. Stories of Black leadership, innovation, service, and excellence are missing, she says. Chicago deserves better.

Hermene Hartman founded N’DIGO, Chicago’s leading African American publication, in 1989. Her TV show, N'Digo Studio, which has been nominated for an Emmy Award for the best interview/discussion content, features interviews with Black civic, business, and cultural leaders and follows Meet the Press on Sunday mornings on NBC 5 Chicago.

During the Civil Rights movement, Hartman worked for Operation Breadbasket with Rev. Jesse Jackson. She coordinated the organization’s Black Expo, produced public service programming for WBBM-TV Chicago, and taught behavioral sciences at the college level. Following her tenure as the first woman vice-chancellor of the City Colleges of Chicago, she moved into publishing. Hartman has long recognized the need for honest representations rather than stereotypical images of African American culture in mainstream media. She has graduate degrees in sociology and philosophy of education as well as an MBA from the University of Illinois.

After registration, a confirmation email will be sent with the link to the live presentation.

This is a FREE EVENT, HOWEVER during these uncertain times, your support is critical to the success of First Friday Club of Chicago.

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