Reporting

Cicero Independiente is looking for contributing reporters! Is there something you’ve always been curious about in Cicero and Berwyn? Did you ever want to research some of our elected officials and government meetings? Do you have an idea for something that NEEDS to be told? 

We’re looking for people who are interested in getting paid to report for Cicero Independiente. You don’t need to have journalism experience to help us report on issues that are important to our community. 

Send us your idea by filling out this form and let us know what kind of support you’ll need. You can also view a PDF of the pitch guide here. 

What stories are we looking for? 

We are looking for stories that are of interest to or affect Cicero and Berwyn, residents. Cicero is primarily composed of Spanish-speaking Latinx immigrants and a growing Black population. 

We are interested in stories of topics that are underreported, that hold local leaders accountable, and that provide important and actionable information for readers. We also like to feature Cicero residents doing positive work in the community, new businesses, and local organizing efforts. 

Reported stories can be written, video, photo essays, comics, or illustration based. 

Payment

Our rates for illustrations range from $100-$200. 

Rates for reported stories range from $150-$450 depending on length and complexity. Community contributions and opinion pieces are paid $100. 

These rates are based on research using resources from the Institute for Nonprofit News. They are flexible and open to negotiation. 

Volunteering

We deliver a print edition of our stories to local businesses and organizations on a quarterly basis. We print our work to make sure that people who don’t have internet access or who don’t use social media can still have access to all the information we share. If you want to help us distribute the print edition to locations near you email info@ciceroindependiente.com and we’ll stay in touch. 

Community Voice

We work with Cicero and Berwyn residents to publish opinion pieces and community contributions under our “Community Voice” section. If you want to contribute a piece email us at info@ciceroindependiente.com. We’ll work with you to fact-check and edit your work before publishing.