To Tell the Truth: The Future of Local Media (The Podcast)

Have you thanked a journalist lately?

Coming off one of the most challenging years ever for local U.S. reporters, the historic 19th Century Club in Oak Park gathered a panel of journalists—and a gerontologist—to assess the present and future of local news, with your Chicago Public Square publisher as a moderator.

And now, in a Square podcast, hear how it went, May 9, 2026—with Monica Eng of Axios Chicago; Manny Ramos of Block Club Chicago; Max Reinsdorf, general manager of the Newswell Chicago newspapers; and gerontologist Dr. Lydia Manning.

Listen here, or on Spotify, Pandora, YouTube, Amazon’s Alexa-powered speakers or Apple Podcasts.

If you prefer to watch your podcasts, here’s video of the session, produced by John Roberts and Edward Pitts of Absolute Streaming.

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Photos, left to right: Meyerson, Manning, Eng, Ramos, Reinsdorf.
Photographer: Todd Bannor.
Raw audio: John Roberts and Edward Pitts, Absolute Streaming.