The Harvey World Herald Isn’t Just a News Site—It’s a Lifeline

The Harvey World Herald isn’t just a news site—it’s a lifeline for the people of Harvey, Illinois. Founded by Amethyst Davis, a Harvey native, the Herald delivers sharp, accountable journalism that centers the needs of this majority-Black, working-class suburb of Cook County.

“Harvey hadn’t had a traditional newsroom in decades—not through the recession, not through the pandemic,” said Davis. “Building one is hard, but living in a community without one is even harder.”

Since launch, the Herald has earned its place as a trusted source for public safety, education, health, politics, and more—always with a focus on holding power to account. As a grantee of The Pivot Fund, the Herald is a prime example of what it means to be grounded in, and responsive to, the community it serves.

From Local Roots to Local Power

This year, the Herald doubled down on civic and political reporting by hiring two contract civic editors and two contract civic reporters to ensure robust coverage of public meetings across Harvey and Cook County. This expansion comes at a crucial time, as residents demand deeper insight into local decision-making.

One major investigation uncovered a sitting Cook County Commissioner receiving a lucrative contract from the Harvey Public Library District—where her husband sits as board president. It was a story bigger outlets passed over, but one that resonated with Harvey residents.

“This is the kind of newsroom where 20-something renters explain levies to homeowners confused about tax bills,” Davis said. “We’re constantly hearing, ‘Y’all aren’t regular journalists.’ And that’s a compliment.”

From mayoral spending to school board shakeups, the Herald equips residents with the information they need to understand how policy touches their daily lives.

Reaching the Next Generation

With support from The Pivot Fund, Davis is also expanding the Herald’s capacity to reach younger audiences. She brought in a young intern from the South Suburbs—via Governors State University—to manage social media, helping deepen the Herald’s growing presence on Instagram, where most young people in Harvey engage with the news.

The newsroom is now adapting reporting specifically for Instagram and launching a long-awaited cultural initiative: a video series highlighting arts and entertainment for youth across the South Suburbs. The idea was born in 2022 while Davis was at CUNY, but the team didn’t have the resources to bring it to life—until now.

With a host now secured and a social media strategist onboard to help package and distribute content, the Herald is preparing to shoot in May. They’re currently working on branding and assembling a social media kit, with plans to edit a pilot episode and trailers throughout June and July. The full rollout is expected in August.

“This isn’t journalism just for a community,” Davis said. “It’s young people from the community building journalism with the community.”

Deep Roots, Big Vision

Davis is Harvey through and through. She graduated from Harvey public schools before attending NYU, where she later worked as an administrator. Her career spans policy research, social services, and higher education, but her heart never left home.

“My doctor is still in Harvey. My PO Box is still in Harvey. I’m tied to this community—I ain’t going nowhere,” she said.

She returned home to build the Herald in response to decades of media neglect and misrepresentation. “We have to acknowledge and work through the mistrust our community has for the media—because it’s real. And it’s earned,” Davis said. “But transparency builds trust. And people deserve to see themselves fully, not just when something goes wrong.”

Courageous, Grounded Reporting

In a small town, covering politics can get personal. Everyone knows everyone, and backlash is real. But Davis and her team haven’t wavered. They’ve stuck to the basics: report ethically, tell the truth, and respect the community.

This ethos turned the Herald into a vital watchdog during the 2025 elections—cutting through noise with clarity, and reminding voters why local journalism matters most.

“At the core, it’s about common sense and care,” Davis said. “It’s not radical to treat people with respect and meet basic needs—but it makes a world of difference when your town has long felt ignored or mocked by the press.”

With The Pivot Fund’s support, Davis now has the capacity to join the Local Media Association’s Fundraising Lab for Local Journalism—something she previously didn’t have the bandwidth for. This marks a new chapter in growing the Herald’s sustainability and impact.

Davis is currently nominated for the 2025 Public Narrative People’s Choice Award—a recognition that reflects the Herald’s growing reach and the importance of investing in local, independent journalism. Without outlets like this, these stories go untold.

Read more at harveyworld.org

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