Maia McDonald 💫✌🏽
@maiamcdonald.me
award-winning chicago journo 📝 | prev: reporting/audience engagement for the @raceandequityproject.org 🔎 | board member for the Chicago Journalists Association | Mizzou J-School Alum 🎓🐯 | funky fashion enthusiast 🛍 | maiamcdonald.me | @maia.pink 🎪 |she/her
For anyone who doesn't see the vision! Even the best of the best has done it! 😤
January 16, 2026 at 6:31 PM
For anyone who doesn't see the vision! Even the best of the best has done it! 😤
New post up on Substack! Go check it out, and please be nice! 🫣 maiazine.substack.com/p/the-maia-d...
January 5, 2026 at 8:13 PM
New post up on Substack! Go check it out, and please be nice! 🫣 maiazine.substack.com/p/the-maia-d...
I’m officially in my girl-blogging era! After months of development, I've finally started publishing on my fashion and culture Substack, maiazine! I'm nervous but ultimately very excited! So if you're interested in hearing me gab about fashion and more, please tap in! 🔗 below!
December 8, 2025 at 6:19 PM
I’m officially in my girl-blogging era! After months of development, I've finally started publishing on my fashion and culture Substack, maiazine! I'm nervous but ultimately very excited! So if you're interested in hearing me gab about fashion and more, please tap in! 🔗 below!
My listening age was 19, which I'm kind of not into. I don't know, I feel like I need to start listening to some throwbacks 😅
December 3, 2025 at 8:39 PM
My listening age was 19, which I'm kind of not into. I don't know, I feel like I need to start listening to some throwbacks 😅
No one asked, but in case you're wondering what's on my #SpotifyWrapped ... 🫣
December 3, 2025 at 8:39 PM
No one asked, but in case you're wondering what's on my #SpotifyWrapped ... 🫣
And dessert is Biscoff cookie butter pie!
November 28, 2025 at 2:42 AM
And dessert is Biscoff cookie butter pie!
Also, I did make something! I used to be more of an enjoyer of Thanksgiving as opposed to someone who contributed to the menu, but like the last few years, today, I made creamed corn. Very yummy if you haven't tried it before. My sister's turkey was also amazing.
November 28, 2025 at 2:18 AM
Also, I did make something! I used to be more of an enjoyer of Thanksgiving as opposed to someone who contributed to the menu, but like the last few years, today, I made creamed corn. Very yummy if you haven't tried it before. My sister's turkey was also amazing.
We'll be working on making next year's ceremony just as special, and hope you will stick around to see how it turns out! In the meantime, please continue to follow us and consider joining the Chicago Journalists Association if you're interested in our upcoming events.
November 18, 2025 at 6:17 PM
We'll be working on making next year's ceremony just as special, and hope you will stick around to see how it turns out! In the meantime, please continue to follow us and consider joining the Chicago Journalists Association if you're interested in our upcoming events.
Thanks again to everyone who attended The Chicago Journalist Association's 86th annual awards ceremony this past Friday! The CJA board put a lot of work into making the evening special for all of our finalists, winners, and other guests, and we appreciate your attendance!
📸: Vincent D. Johnson
📸: Vincent D. Johnson
November 18, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Thanks again to everyone who attended The Chicago Journalist Association's 86th annual awards ceremony this past Friday! The CJA board put a lot of work into making the evening special for all of our finalists, winners, and other guests, and we appreciate your attendance!
📸: Vincent D. Johnson
📸: Vincent D. Johnson
On-site at The Newberry Library for The Chicago Journalists Association's 86th Annual Awards Ceremony! Kicking off really soon! Excited to see so many talented journalists together here tonight!
November 15, 2025 at 12:20 AM
On-site at The Newberry Library for The Chicago Journalists Association's 86th Annual Awards Ceremony! Kicking off really soon! Excited to see so many talented journalists together here tonight!
Reminder to purchase your tickets for the Chicago Journalist Association's annual awards ceremony, tomorrow at the
The Newberry Library from 6:30-9:30 p.m.! We'd love to see you there!
The Newberry Library from 6:30-9:30 p.m.! We'd love to see you there!
November 13, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Reminder to purchase your tickets for the Chicago Journalist Association's annual awards ceremony, tomorrow at the
The Newberry Library from 6:30-9:30 p.m.! We'd love to see you there!
The Newberry Library from 6:30-9:30 p.m.! We'd love to see you there!
Reminder that I am the cutiest of patooties and I can report a story like no one's business, so you should really ✨️𝓱𝓲𝓻𝓮 𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝓸𝓭𝓪𝔂✨️
August 14, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Reminder that I am the cutiest of patooties and I can report a story like no one's business, so you should really ✨️𝓱𝓲𝓻𝓮 𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝓸𝓭𝓪𝔂✨️
An oldie but a goodie.
August 14, 2025 at 4:08 PM
An oldie but a goodie.
Well, isn't this exciting! The latest investigation from @raceandequityproject.org is in today's edition of the @chicago.suntimes.com! Gotta say, seeing my name and reporting printed in the paper has me pretty stoked 😁
June 1, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Well, isn't this exciting! The latest investigation from @raceandequityproject.org is in today's edition of the @chicago.suntimes.com! Gotta say, seeing my name and reporting printed in the paper has me pretty stoked 😁
Tonight's entertainment.
May 21, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Tonight's entertainment.
I mean, the energy here was just electric...
May 19, 2025 at 4:38 PM
I mean, the energy here was just electric...
And yes, of course, I had to wear a pink cowboy hat! I'm nothing if not consistent! 🤠
May 19, 2025 at 4:11 PM
And yes, of course, I had to wear a pink cowboy hat! I'm nothing if not consistent! 🤠
It was so cold last night but my sister and I had such a great time at the Chicago Night 3 of Beyoncé's #CowboyCarterWorldTour. It was 50 degrees, and that wind was whipping, but best believe I was dancing and singing my tail off.
May 19, 2025 at 4:09 PM
It was so cold last night but my sister and I had such a great time at the Chicago Night 3 of Beyoncé's #CowboyCarterWorldTour. It was 50 degrees, and that wind was whipping, but best believe I was dancing and singing my tail off.
Almost showtime. #CowboyCarterWorldTour
May 19, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Almost showtime. #CowboyCarterWorldTour
Headed to see the Queen. #CowboyCarterWorldTour
May 18, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Headed to see the Queen. #CowboyCarterWorldTour
Another highlight of last night was reuniting with Teresa White, who, if you were part of Free Spirit Media's FSM News back in the day, you knew as Ms. Teresa. She led the after-school and summer programs at the Gary Comer Youth Center, which got me interested in news back when I was a young teen.
May 10, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Another highlight of last night was reuniting with Teresa White, who, if you were part of Free Spirit Media's FSM News back in the day, you knew as Ms. Teresa. She led the after-school and summer programs at the Gary Comer Youth Center, which got me interested in news back when I was a young teen.
Well, I've got some news! Last night,
@raceandequityproject.org won two Lisagor awards for our story looking into the struggles many Black seniors face in receiving home improvement loans. It’s the first story I've worked on to be nominated and win at the Lisagors, and I couldn't be more grateful.
@raceandequityproject.org won two Lisagor awards for our story looking into the struggles many Black seniors face in receiving home improvement loans. It’s the first story I've worked on to be nominated and win at the Lisagors, and I couldn't be more grateful.
May 10, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Well, I've got some news! Last night,
@raceandequityproject.org won two Lisagor awards for our story looking into the struggles many Black seniors face in receiving home improvement loans. It’s the first story I've worked on to be nominated and win at the Lisagors, and I couldn't be more grateful.
@raceandequityproject.org won two Lisagor awards for our story looking into the struggles many Black seniors face in receiving home improvement loans. It’s the first story I've worked on to be nominated and win at the Lisagors, and I couldn't be more grateful.
