People-powered news on your local government.

We’re putting every public meeting on the record in

Who we are

A network of newsrooms and community organizations committed to participatory civic media.

What we do

We train and pay hundreds of people to attend under-reported public meetings and publish the results.

We’re building a new public record

Your elected officials are making big decisions. Keep tabs with original notes, live-tweet threads and multimedia reports from Documenters in your area—updated daily

Chicago

Finance
Nov. 22, 2024

Lead service line replacement, Restaurants at the airport

Chicago

Finance
Nov. 20, 2024

Rat contraceptives and carbon dioxide fumigation are two leading ways for dealing with the rat problem outside poisoning. The agency believes that changing the culture of littering and irresponsible waste management is the true solution for curbing the rat problem.

Chicago

Finance
Nov. 20, 2024

Rat contraceptives and carbon dioxide fumigation are two leading ways for dealing with the rat problem outside poisoning. The agency believes that changing the culture of littering and irresponsible waste management is the true solution for curbing the rat problem.

Chicago

Finance
Nov. 21, 2024

Alders seem invested in finding alternative ways to manage budget

Chicago

Finance
Nov. 8, 2024

The Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events (DCASE) discussed department processes for approving permits and the impacts special events like festivals have on consituents.

Chicago

Finance
Nov. 12, 2024

911 and 311 service and response

Chicago

Finance
Nov. 22, 2024

General concern with employment, such as trade apprenticeships; concerns with diversity in hiring and contracting with in Department of Water Management & Chicago Department of Aviation

Chicago

Finance
Nov. 19, 2024

Chicago Fire Department recruitment

Chicago

Finance
Dec. 4, 2024

Alders are concerned with budget and staffing shortages at the Department of Law which has led to high cost of litigation.

Chicago

Finance
Nov. 21, 2024

Alders seem invested in finding alternative ways to manage budget
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“How are your tax dollars spent? What are your elected officials doing? Are they listening to you? What is the process? That, as a Documenter, is what you have to show people.”

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Community reporting

“In almost every case for a meeting that I’ve covered, I’ve been the only person connected to the media that has been in the room.”

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About this project

Journalists

How our public meeting coverage supports local reporting.

Organizers

How our public meeting coverage tracks policy trends and public input.

Educators

How our training modules build civic knowledge and action.

Curious Citizens

How anyone can become a Documenter in one of our local programs.