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.
Grand Rapids
Criminal Justice
March 25, 2025
Grand Rapids
Criminal Justice
March 19, 2025
Grand Rapids Police Civilian Appeal Board Grand Rapids Police Civilian Appeal Board
Notetaking by
AK Dressler
Grand Rapids
Development
Feb. 7, 2025
Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority
Audio by
Stephanie Dennis
Grand Rapids
Development
March 7, 2025
Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority
Audio by
Hailey Lynch-Bastion
Grand Rapids
Libraries
Feb. 25, 2025
GRPL Board of Library Commissioners GRPL Board of Library Commissioners
Notetaking by
Angel Dominguez
Grand Rapids
Libraries
Feb. 25, 2025
Grand Rapids
Development
Feb. 26, 2025
Grand Rapids Brownfield Redevelopment Agency Brownfield Redevelopment Authority
Notetaking by
Angel Dominguez
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.