After changing hands a few times, Chicago Public Media is launching chicago.com.
Chicago.com will soon return as an active online destination under the stewardship of Chicago Public Media. The domain has a layered history: it was once sold by Josh Metnick to the publisher of the Chicago Sun-Times, later moved into the care of The Chicago Community Trust, and now is being transferred to Chicago Public Media for public use.
The domain’s passage through several owners reflects how valuable short, city-branded web addresses remain. After the initial sale to the Sun-Times publisher, control of the name shifted again when The Chicago Community Trust acquired it years later. That organization has now decided to donate the name to Chicago Public Media, the nonprofit that operates WBEZ 91.5 and that in recent years has expanded its role in Chicago’s media landscape.
Chicago Public Media says it plans to relaunch chicago.com in the coming months as a source of trusted local information. The site is intended to complement the organization’s existing offerings, including public radio programming, local reporting and community-focused journalism. With chicago.com, Chicago Public Media aims to make it easier for residents to find reliable news, resources and context about the city where they live.
The donation of the domain is notable because while Chicago Public Media acquired the Chicago Sun-Times in 2022 and converted it into a nonprofit news organization, that acquisition did not include the chicago.com domain. Transferring the domain now completes a missing piece that can help the organization broaden its digital footprint while maintaining a clear focus on local service.
Short, memorable domains such as chicago.com carry marketing and brand advantages: they are easy to remember, simple to type, and immediately signify a strong connection to the city. For local media organizations, owning such an address can strengthen discoverability and direct more casual online traffic to journalism and resources that residents need. Chicago Public Media’s stewardship of the site aligns with the nonprofit mission of serving the public interest, especially when paired with the editorial standards and community engagement practices that organizations like WBEZ have developed over time.
As preparations continue for the site’s launch this fall, Chicago Public Media will likely focus on shaping chicago.com to meet both informational and civic needs. That could include local news summaries, curated resources for residents, guides to civic participation, and links to reporting from both Chicago Public Media and partner organizations. The goal, as described by the organization, is to provide accessible, trustworthy information that helps Chicagoans stay informed about local issues, events, and services.
The move also highlights the role that philanthropic organizations can play in stewarding digital assets for the public good. The Chicago Community Trust’s donation of the domain demonstrates one way that nonprofit entities can transfer resources to local media providers to support ongoing access to civic information. By placing the domain with an established local media nonprofit, the Trust has acted to keep the web address within the public-oriented media ecosystem rather than letting it be used for purely commercial purposes.
For readers and residents, the return of chicago.com under Chicago Public Media’s ownership means there will soon be a single, recognizable online address intended to connect people with reliable local content. As the organization finalizes the site’s design and editorial plan, citizens can expect a platform that emphasizes trust, local relevance, and community service—carrying forward the long-standing practice of local journalism adapted for modern digital access.