South Side-born news leader Malik Jackson will step in as publisher of the Chicago Reader on June 1, 2026, putting a neighborhood insider in charge of the city's long-running alt-weekly during a stretch of ownership change and format upheaval.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Jackson previously served as executive director and publisher of South Side Media Works, the nonprofit that runs the South Side Weekly and the Hyde Park Herald. He will replace former publisher Amber Nettles, who departed in November 2025 to join EmpowerLocal. In a news release cited by the paper, Jackson said the Reader "has a rich and storied history" and that he was eager to help guide its next chapter.
New Ownership And A Monthly Return
The Reader was acquired by Noisy Creek in August 2025 as part of a push to steady alt-weeklies and pool resources across several titles, according to Nieman Lab. After a pause in publication, the paper returned to print in February as a monthly magazine, and earlier leadership fights and 2025 staff cuts left readers wary about the publication's long-term footing, WTTW reported.
Local Roots And A Possible Direction
Jackson's track record running neighborhood outlets suggests the Reader could lean harder into South Side reporting and community partnerships. His leadership at South Side Media Works is documented in organizational materials and event listings; see South Side Weekly and a conference program listing from Public Narrative for background on his work.
Editor Sarah Conway has described the Reader's print relaunch as "entering its own moment of rebirth," and Jackson's appointment will be an early signal of whether Noisy Creek's model can translate into sustained local reporting, according to WTTW. For many readers and local artists, the open question is whether the Reader can rebuild its newsroom while staying a visible stage for Chicago's cultural life.
