More than 50 public meetings take place every month in Mecklenburg County, where critical decisions affecting residents are made. Many of these meetings and other government proceedings, like Charlotte Immigration Court, currently receive little or no media coverage, creating gaps in public information about local decision-making. Residents will soon have access to the information they need from those meetings, and training to cover them, thanks to a partnership between Charlotte Journalism Collaborative, the Knight School of Communication at Queens University of Charlotte and City Bureau’s Documenters Network.
While recent studies show declining public trust in institutions, their need for trusted information from those institutions has not abated. The Documenters program is a structural solution to create the conditions for social and democratic renewal. The Documenters Network, created by Chicago-based City Bureau with 22 sites throughout the nation, makes public meetings more transparent and accessible.
If you’d like to sign up to learn more about how to participate as a Documenter or partner with us as we launch, please fill out this form – LINK.
In an era of profound disconnection, stronger community relationships are essential for democracy to thrive. Public meetings represent a powerful opportunity for residents to understand and participate in the decisions shaping their communities. Charlotte Documenters will train and pay local residents to attend public meetings and share what happens there, making local decision-making more transparent and accessible.
The initiative is being supported by a two-year, $150,000 grant from The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The Charlotte Journalism Collaborative is now raising matching funds to meet the program’s full two-year budget and build sustainable support for community-powered journalism in Charlotte. The Robinson Center for Civic Leadership at Foundation For The Carolinas has already committed $25,000 toward the effort helping catalyze additional investments from local philanthropies and civic partners to support the program’s two-year pilot.
“We are thrilled with the early support of this program and the excitement that it is already garnering across the city,” said Chris Rudisill, CJC Director. “Support from Knight Foundation and Foundation For The Carolinas shows a shared commitment to building informed and engaged communities.”
Charlotte Documenters will centralize, standardize and share information on public meetings throughout Mecklenburg County. Residents don’t need to be a Documenter to use the site, but all are welcome to apply and join the community. Learn more at: https://charlottejournalism.org/charlotte-documenters/.
“Public meetings are workshops of democracy, where residents of every American community can witness, learn about, and act on the systems that impact their lives,” said Max Resnik, City Bureau’s Director of Growth. “We’re thrilled to support the CJC’s efforts to bring participatory civic media to Charlotte.”
