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

We’re putting every public meeting on the record

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.

Columbia Gorge

Utilities
June 10, 2025

Dallesport Water District has been trying to get a $185,000 grant to help get metals out of drinking water. Both county and public utility district commissioners finally seem ready to approve it. But the sewer treatment plant faces trouble, with $2.5 million in maintenance ahead.

Klickitat County Public Utility District Special Joint meeting with Klickitat County Commission

Notetaking by

Amy Spring

Atlanta

Development
June 9, 2025

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Atlanta

Development
June 9, 2025

Community leaders seek historic preservation status from the City of Atlanta to help protect Lakewood Heights from potential investors.

Chicago

Criminal Justice
May 28, 2025

The Chicago Commission on Human Relations is trying to raise awareness about their existence as a resource for hate crime reporting.

Indianapolis

Housing
June 10, 2025

Regular Indianapolis Housing Agency board meeting. Emergency housing voucher participants will now be able to utilize the housing choice voucher program.

Indianapolis Housing Agency Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting

Notetaking by

Anna Hitz-Bradley

Cleveland

Housing
June 4, 2025

Authority hosting graduation celebrations, mobility demonstrations in support of residents

Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Board of Commissioners

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Antoinette Williams

Minneapolis

Development
June 2, 2025

Approved a permit for a new apartment building called The Warren in the Willard Hay neighborhood.

Minneapolis Planning Commission Planning Commission

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Amy Brugh

Cleveland

Politics
May 29, 2025

County official provides update on legal issues surrounding DEI

Cuyahoga County Citizens' Advisory Council on Equity Citizens' Advisory Council on Equity meeting

Notetaking by

Stacie Simon

Minneapolis

Environment
Oct. 9, 2024

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Northside Green Zone Task Force Northside Green Zone Task Force

Notetaking by

Tashawna Williams

Minneapolis

Environment
Oct. 16, 2024

See the report

Southside Green Zone Council Southside Green Zone Council

Notetaking by

Tashawna Williams

See all of our public meeting reports →

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.”

Picture of Susan Carlotta Ellis Susan Carlotta Ellis

Find upcoming workshops

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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View public meeting schedules

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.”

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Become a Documenter

About City Bureau’s Documenters Network 

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.