The TRiiBE is committed to reporting that uplifts marginalized communities, especially those with a framework for Black youth, queer, abolitionist and women’s advocacy. Our content, supported by impact strategies and events, builds upon our commitment to Black communities and our stories. As our journalistic endeavors bring forth revelations around the Black experience, The TRiiBE’s reporting activates and empowers the community using our digital website, thetriibe.com, our social media channels and our annual print publication, The TRiiBE Guide in creative ways.
1. Our story “CPS students are tired of being left out of the discussion around COVID-19 safety plans for schools” is one example of creative use of online technology and social media. During weeks of tension between the Chicago Teachers Union, Chicago Public Schools and Mayor Lightfoot, we put a call out to students on social media, asking how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected them over the past two years. The responses we got back through direct messages on Instagram, for example, were encouraging. To uplift as many voices as possible, in a way that doesn’t overwhelm the reader, our web developer added interactive boxes for readers to click on to read responses from students whose anecdotes didn’t make it into the story. This is a tool we use regularly when reporting on important topics, including political candidates running for local office.
2. Our story “New video shows Roseland teen run over by Chicago police SUV after two officers get out; family demands $2.1M settlement” is an example of how intertwined social media is with our reporting. Our audience directly interacts with us through Twitter and Instagram, primarily. During the 2020 uprisings, many people reached out to tell us that a young Black girl on the South Side had been hurt by police, and they feared she’d died. We spent hours reaching out to police, local hospitals and more looking for the girl. We wrote a preliminary story based on the facts we had, and the girl’s attorney reached out to us on Instagram, telling us all the details of what happened. He’s been in regular contact with us since the incident. Social media is an important reporting tool to us and our community.
3. For The TRiiBE Guide 2021 (attached), we partnered with local Black-owned businesses to distribute the publication for free. It was sponsored by Chicago Beyond, and served as an educational guide to Black and Indigenous Chicago history. We won a 2021 Peter Lisagor award for our interactive design of the print publication. We created a special site with distribution locations.
List of awards and accolades (to name a few):
2021 Peter Lisagor award for Best Community/Neighborhood News
2021 Peter Lisagor award for Best Print Design for The TRiiBE Guide
2021 Chicago Magazine Power 30 list
2020 Leader for a New Chicago Award
2019 ADWEEK Rising Brand Stars of Chicago
FORBES 30 UNDER 30 — MEDIA CLASS 2019
Foundational support (to name a few):
Borealis Racial Equity in Journalism Fund
Chicago Community Trust
Field Foundation
