What can I learn by being a Documenter...
A lot about the place where you live! What is your City Council talking about this week? What are Local School Councils, and what community power do they have? What neighborhood is the police department doing outreach in? Who governs our water?
Our Documenters program is a critical component in City Bureau’s mission to bridge the ideals of civic journalism with the economic and political realities in which it exists. In short, Documenters democratize news & information at the local level.
Documenters participate in a range of City Bureau projects, including, but not limited to:
Attending and documenting public governance meetings and civic events
Engaging in projects designed to increase the role of reporting and storytelling in public discourse
Using data, official reports and community dialogue to provide context to some of the city’s most pressing issues
Assisting with City Bureau's public events
Writing reflections to be featured on City Bureau’s blog
City Bureau's Documenters programs pays community members an hourly wage to inform and engage their communities. Documenter assignments take many forms from documenting public governance meetings in to participation in journalistic project based in our South Side newsroom. There are many ways Documenters put their skills, knowledge and experience to work for the public good.
Ideal candidates have some interest in local politics, the civic process and storytelling. $15/hour stipends and transportation are provided per event attended. Documenters must attend at least one (1) free City Bureau training session before becoming eligible for paid assignments.
Sign up to become a Documenter at Documenters.org