With the goal of adding a progressive voice to the Illinois political media sphere, Progress Illinois launched in March 2008 thanks to an exclusive sponsorship from the SEIU Illinois State Council.
The timing was ideal: Barack Obama’s White House bid sparked widespread political interest and elevated Chicago’s political scene. This momentum continued during the year after the election, as Illinois generated a string of compelling political events. And PI was at the center of the action, establishing itself as a premier source of political news and commentary in the state.
During the fall of 2009, the site attracted over 25,000 unique visitors per week.
The PI editorial team – made up of editor Josh Kalven and reporter-bloggers Adam Doster and Angela Caputo -- publishes 40-50 items per week covering a range of timely issues. This content draws from the best articles and commentary on the topics at hand, supplements this material with original reporting and analysis, and provides resources for those seeking to learn more.
“A must-bookmark that combines original reporting with muscular commentary on stories in the local media.” - Eric Zorn, Chicago Tribune columnist
“Extremely well-designed and extremely well-written. Get in the habit of checking it regularly.” - Nate Silver, FiveThirtyEight.com
“If you’re serious about Illinois public policy, PI is an essential source” - Harold Pollack, The American Prospect
“Every state should have one.” - Chris Hayes, The Nation
For more information check out our Frequently Asked Questions. For contact info, click here.
