Major Chicago-based Democratic donor Fred Eychaner is funding a new media outlet that launched Nov. 18, and which is aimed at covering state and local political races in the Midwest, Politico reported.
The outfit combines Heartland Signal, a new digital news site that will focus on midterm coverage, and WCPT, an existing progressive talk radio station with a large presence in Midwestern states. Heartland Signal has brought on eight full-time and freelance staff to produce stories on House, Senate and gubernatorial races in the Midwest ahead of the 2022 elections.
Eychaner, who was inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame in 2015, has given approximately $100 million to Democratic causes over the last two decades, according to federal campaign-finance records.
Last month, Courier Newsroom, a local newsgroup with a progressive slant, relaunched under a new media company, Good Information Inc., backed by Democratic megadonors Reid Hoffman and George Soros.