The News You Live

WTTW has been an integral part of Chicago since 1955. A premier public media organization covering Chicago’s communities from West Pullman to Roger’s Park and beyond, WTTW is trusted for telling the stories of the people who live, work and play in Chicago.

To continue to build awareness for WTTW News, WTTW partnered with two other Chicago natives – musician, actor, artist, producer and activist Common and Ad Agency Two by Four. Together, they created a campaign that showcases the unique stories that have shaped Chicago and the people who live them.

“WTTW News is an essential source for trusted, local, independent news that connects the people and communities in Chicago,” said WTTW President & CEO Sandra Cordova Micek. “This campaign is an expression of our commitment to serve and reflect the people and communities across our region and to help share their stories and perspectives in an impactful way.”

For the campaign, Two by Four focused on what WTTW does best – represent, reflect and highlight the stories of real Chicagoans and their neighborhoods. Elements of the campaign include a broadcast spot narrated by Common and featuring neighborhoods where the best Chicago stories began, including his own in Avalon Park where he grew up.
“Chicago has been a city that has given me so much,” shared Common. “It’s a city that has been the foundation of many of the stories I have told throughout my career. Through my work with Art in Motion and the Common Ground Foundation, I’ve realized there are so many stories just like mine that deserve to be told with reverence. I am proud to partner with an institution like WTTW that has built a reputation on keeping Chicagoans informed in the most authentic way.”

“Chicago and its unique neighborhoods have been a huge source of creative inspiration for Two by Four since we started 25 years ago,” stated Adam Von Ohlen, Chief Creative Officer Two by Four. “We’re honored to have played a role in creating a campaign that is so distinctly Chicago from start to finish.”

About the WTTW Creative Campaign:
The campaign is titled “The News You Live.”

To help create a campaign that is authentically WTTW, Two by Four focused on conveying the core principle of WTTW News – to provide trusted, essential reporting and coverage of real Chicagoans and their communities, and WTTW’s purpose – to enrich lives, engage communities, and inspire exploration.
Two by Four understood that this foundational spirit needed to show up in the creative. That is where Common, Chicago born and raised, came into the picture. Not only is Common from Chicago, he is also the founder of Art In Motion and the Common Ground Foundation, two nonprofits based in Chicago. His strong ties to the city make him the perfect person to talk to Chicagoans about the importance of trusted, local journalism.

The multi-channel campaign includes television spots, radio and audio streaming spots, digital and social display, online video, and outdoor and can be seen in and around Chicago.