In 2024, we sought — and published — more community voices in our news coverage

Percy L. Julian High School proudly displayed on top of its website a Sun-Times column by one of its graduates.

Lashaunta Moore wrote last summer about how her South Side high school journalism program helped her to pursue a communications career.

"People are always shocked when I revea

l that I am a Percy L. Julian" graduate, wrote the social media coordinator at a Chicago company. "It finally dawned on me ... few people know about the career and technical education programs offered by Chicago Public Schools."

Moore now is growing as a writer as one of the Sun-Times Chicago’s Next Voices columnists — Chicago area residents who won a contest designed to provide a variety of views from the metropolitan area.

The columns are part of a bigger goal in the last few years to better reflect Chicago's diversity in our news pages and keep pace with changing times. We also have had community listening sessions and beefed up the diversity of our staff to more closely resemble the local population.

Just four years ago, the leadership on our news masthead was largely white and male. Today, the newsroom boasts its first woman and person of color as executive editor — Jennifer Kho. The same is true for the Sun-Times editorial page, which is headed by Lorraine Forte.

In terms of racial and ethnic identity, our newsroom is 64% white, 14% Black, 12% Hispanic, 8% Asian and 2% two or more races. Our news staff is 63% male and 37% female, including those who identify as transgender.

Since February 2022, 67% of new hires have made us more diverse.

Our reporting has grown more reflective of all of our communities, with more people included in our coverage. According to an independent audit completed this year, the number of sources in our stories grew 42% in 2023 compared to 2022, with coverage of 100 unique Chicago area neighborhoods across the city and suburbs — and 53.8% of local stories including sources of color — in just one month.

Community listening sessions

We had three community listening sessions this year in Belmont Cragin, South Shore and Portage Park. We also had a public safety meeting in the Loop. Overall, we have had nine community meetings throughout Chicago since 2022, including one in west suburban Berwyn.

In one session, participants helped us pick stories to promote on the front page. They also suggested story ideas and talked about their neighborhoods and favorite columnists.

Voices

For our Chicago's Next Voices series, which started in the summer of 2023, we've run 17 columns by area residents, ranging from Gen Zers to seniors writing about topics ranging from race relations to parks.

"I grew up in the Chicago area and grew up reading the Sun-Times," said Moore, 28, who has written three columns. “It is great seeing my name in print. It has given me a voice to showcase my views."

Now, we are seeking teen voices. High schoolers have until Dec. 31 to submit columns. Under the theme "Looking Ahead," students ages 13 to 18 are invited to send in an original, unpublished 525- to 600-word writing sample.

Teens younger than 18 must submit a parental consent form to enter.

Winners will each receive $250, and their work will appear in the Sun-Times in 2025.

An original piece can be submitted at suntimes.com/chicagovoices.