City Bureau’s Documenters Network: People-powered news and information

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.
The Future is Informed
Your elected officials are making big decisions. Keep tabs with regular notes, real-time social media updates, and multimedia reports from Documenters in your area. Together, we’re building a new public record.
Chicago
Criminal Justice
March 25, 2025
Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability [in person] Public Hearing - COPA Chief Administrator Search - Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability
Live reporting by
Ebony Ellis
Chicago
Development
March 24, 2025
Chicago Housing Authority [remote or in person] Chicago Housing Authority Board of Commissioners
Live reporting by
Jhaylin Benson
Chicago Police District Councils [remote or in person] 24th Police District Council - Rogers Park (Rogers Park, Edgewater, West Ridge)
Live reporting by
Kenji Granberry
Chicago
Education
March 20, 2025
Chicago Public Schools [remote or in-person] Chicago Board of Education
Notetaking by
Madeleine Davison
Chicago
Education
March 20, 2025
Chicago Public Schools [remote or in-person] Chicago Board of Education
Live reporting by
Anson Tong
Chicago
Education
March 17, 2025
Chicago Local School Council Advisory Board [remote or in-person] Local School Council Advisory Board SY 2024-2025
Notetaking by
Ariana Portalatin
Chicago
Education
March 17, 2025
Chicago Local School Council Advisory Board [remote or in-person] Local School Council Advisory Board SY 2024-2025
Live reporting by
Holland Harmon
Chicago Police District Councils [in-person] Chicago Police District Council 020 Regular Meeting
Live reporting by
Briana Madden
Chicago
Transportation
March 12, 2025
Chicago Transit Authority [remote or in person] Regular Board Meeting Chicago Transit Authority Board
Notetaking by
Jamel Smith
Chicago
Criminal Justice
March 4, 2025
Chicago Police District Councils [remote or in person] Police District Council 014 - Shakespeare (Humboldt Park, Avondale, Lincoln Park, West Town, Logan Square)
Notetaking by
Mona Tong
Democracy is What You Do
Get involved in our community of practice.
A unique civic education
“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.”
Susan Carlotta Ellis
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.”
David Palmer
Local connections
“I've learned from other Documenters… I’ve learned skills that helped me to not just be a better citizen but also inform the type of work that I want to do.”
Isabel Sophia Dieppa
About City Bureau’s Documenters Network
How our public meeting coverage supports local reporting.
How our public meeting coverage tracks policy trends and public input.
How our training modules build civic knowledge and action.
How anyone can become a Documenter in one of our local programs.