The Weekly’s Community Investigations Hub pairs residents with journalists to help you investigate issues affecting your community. Our investigations have uncovered police misconduct, housing inequality, city expenditures, and more.

We offer several ways to send us a tip, including an online form and, for confidential communications, secure text messaging and encrypted email.

We also offer workshops with the Better Government Association on the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to equip you with the tools you need to get documents from the government.


Investigative Reports

Missed Shots

Our investigation of ShotSpotter, the gunshot-detection company that has sensors in a dozen police districts on the South and West Sides.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶
✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

The Snelling Files

The Weekly investigates the background of Chicago Police Department superintendent Larry Snelling.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶
✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

The Castle on Drexel

After millions in loans were pumped into building rehab, a historic housing cooperative abruptly dissolved and sold last year. Former members still have questions for the board

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

With our partners at the Better Government Association, the Weekly offers workshops to community residents, organizers, and early career journalists that teach the basics of investigations, FOIA, and more. For workshop inquiries, please email our investigations editor.


To get in touch with our investigations team, fill out our tips form, and a Weekly journalist will get back to you.

We also offer several ways to send confidential tips and documents:

Signal

Signal is a free, end-to-end encrypted messaging app. You can use it to call or send text messages, images, and video directly to our investigative team.

The Weekly’s Signal number is (773) 793–9948.

Download Signal from Google Play

Download Signal from iTunes

Secure email

Send email to our encrypted email address at SSWtips@protonmail.com. ProtonMail is a secure, end-to-end encrypted email server based in Switzerland. The contents and metadata of emails sent to our address are protected from data breaches and government surveillance. We recommend setting up a free ProtonMail account to send us confidential emails.

Postal mail

Mail letters, packages, and documents directly to our newsroom. We recommend using a mail box instead of a post office to protect your anonymity. Our mailing address is:

South Side Weekly
6100 S. Blackstone Ave.
Chicago, IL 60637

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶