WNYC Gifts DNAinfo Assets to Block Club Chicago
(New York – June 28, 2018) – Today, WNYC in New York and Block Club Chicago announced that WNYC has transferred the assets of DNAinfo — the hyperlocal neighborhood news site serving Chicago and New York — to local news outlet Block Club Chicago. WNYC is gifting the assets to Block Club Chicago at no charge.
WNYC acquired key assets of DNAinfo in February 2018 as part of a larger deal that also included the assets of Gothamist and its associated sites. Now, Block Club Chicago, the new nonprofit local news outlet founded by former DNAinfo Chicago editors and writers, will take ownership of the DNAinfo assets, which include the archives, social media channels, internet domains, and trademark.
Block Club Chicago is dedicated to delivering reliable news to Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods. Following a successful Kickstarter project that drew more than 3,100 backers, Block Club Chicago launched earlier this month.
“WNYC is committed to the power of local journalism, not only for New York but for communities all across the country,” said Laura Walker, President and CEO of New York Public Radio, which includes WNYC. “We were thrilled to relaunch the beloved Gothamist brand with members of the site’s team, including co-founders Jen Chung and Jake Dobkin. We are equally excited for the original DNAinfo editorial team as they embark on their own new incarnation with Block Club Chicago. They have been warmly welcomed by Chicagoans, and we are delighted to provide the DNAinfo assets as a gift.”
“We are incredibly excited to reconnect directly with the audience we built, reader by reader, at DNAinfo,” said Shamus Toomey, who launched Block Club Chicago with Jen Sabella and Stephanie Lulay. “We are thankful to WNYC and the Gothamist team for this wonderful opportunity. We look forward to being stewards of the hard-earned work the DNAinfo reporters created, for many years to come.”
About Block Club Chicago
Block Club Chicago is a digital-first news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, nonpartisan and essential coverage of Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods. It is an independent news site launched on the Civil platform. More at blockclubchciago.org.
About WNYC / New York Public Radio
With an urban vibrancy and a global perspective, New York Public Radio produces innovative public radio programs, podcasts, and live events that touch a passionate community of over 26 million people monthly on air, online and in person. From its state-of-the-art studios in New York City, NYPR is reshaping radio for a new generation of listeners with groundbreaking, award-winning programs including Radiolab, On the Media, and Carnegie Hall Live, among many others. New York Public Radio includes WNYC, WQXR, WNYC Studios, The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space, and New Jersey Public Radio. Further information about programs, podcasts, and stations may be found at nypublicradio.org.
