People-powered news on your local government.
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 City Council [remote or in-person] Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development
Notetaking by
Chicago City Council [remote or in-person] Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development
Live reporting by
Anson Tong
Chicago
Development
Oct. 3, 2024
Commission on Chicago Landmarks [remote or in-person] Commission on Chicago Landmarks
Live reporting by
Chicago
Politics
Sept. 30, 2024
Chicago City Council [remote or in-person] Joint Committee: Economic, Capital and Technology Development; Public Safety
Notetaking by
Jerry Winn
Chicago
Politics
Sept. 18, 2024
Cook County Board of Commissioners [remote or in-person] Technology and Innovation Committee
Live reporting by
Natalie Frank
Chicago Park District [remote] Board of Commissioners: Public Budget Forum
Live reporting by
Pachina Fletcher
Chicago Park District [remote] Board of Commissioners: Public Budget Forum
Notetaking by
Anne d'Aquino
Chicago City Council [remote or in-person] Joint Committee: Public Safety; Police and Fire
Live reporting by
Ayesha Riaz
Chicago Police District Councils [in-person] 4th Police District Council - Avalon Park/South Chicago/East Side/Hegewisch
Live reporting by
Adlyn Morrison
Chicago
Development
Sept. 17, 2024
Chicago City Council [remote or in-person] Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards
Notetaking by
Audrey Sides
What our network is saying
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 this project
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.