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
Finance
Nov. 19, 2024
Chicago City Council [remote or in person; 10am-1:30pm] 2025 Chicago budget hearing: Chicago Fire Department
Live reporting by
Chicago City Council [remote or in person; 1:30-5pm] 2025 Chicago budget hearing: Department of Innovation and Technology & Department of Fleet and Facility Management
Live reporting by
Maureen Dunne
Chicago
Finance
Nov. 6, 2024
Chicago City Council [remote or in person, 12-3:30pm] 2025 Chicago Budget Hearing: financial overview
Live reporting by
Chicago
Finance
Nov. 6, 2024
Chicago City Council [remote or in person, 12-3:30pm] 2025 Chicago Budget Hearing: financial overview
Notetaking by
Adlyn Morrison
Chicago
Criminal Justice
Nov. 2, 2024
Chicago Police District Councils [remote or in person] 14th Police District Council - Logan Square/Humboldt Park/Wicker Park
Notetaking by
Mona Tong
Chicago
Politics
Oct. 29, 2024
Chicago City Council [remote or in person] Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development
Notetaking by
Chicago
Development
Oct. 29, 2024
Chicago City Council [remote or in-person] Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards
Notetaking by
Chicago
Development
Oct. 29, 2024
Chicago City Council [remote or in-person] Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards
Live reporting by
Cary Robbins
Chicago
Politics
Oct. 24, 2024
Cook County Board of Commissioners [remote or in-person] Board of Commissioners
Live reporting by
Holland Harmon
Chicago
Politics
Oct. 24, 2024
Cook County Board of Commissioners [remote or in-person] Board of Commissioners
Notetaking by
Nato'sha Trotter
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.