The innovative program trains and pays everyday Philadelphia residents to capture important details from local public meetings, making it easier to be informed and involved
Philadelphia, PA — The Committee of Seventy (C70), Philadelphia’s historic good government organization, is pleased to announce it is the new permanent home of Philadelphia Documenters.
Built on an innovative national model created by City Bureau, and previously housed at Resolve Philly, Philadelphia Documenters aims to democratize local news and public information by paying local residents to attend and document public meetings. By equipping everyday citizens with the tools to share crucial city government decisions, the program turns the inner workings of local government into a transparent, accessible, and shared public record.
To celebrate, C70 will host a public launch event at the Philadelphia Ethical Society on Wednesday, August 26 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Registration is free and open to the public here.
Additionally, C70 is partnering with Temple University’s Klein College of Media and Communication to help build out student involvement and strengthen the program’s roots in community journalism. Sarah Alvarez, James B. Steele Chair in Journalism Innovation at Temple University, brings crucial national expertise to this collaboration, having previously led the highly successful Detroit Documenters program, with more than 700 Documenters to date. This joint effort ensures that the Documenters program bridges grassroots neighborhood advocacy with top-tier civic infrastructure.
“We are thrilled to be the new home for Philly Documenters and excited to build on the incredible foundation already created by this community,” said Lauren Cristella, C70 President and CEO. “Local government works best when the public is in the room. This initiative demystifies local policy, providing residents with the resources and financial compensation they deserve to keep their neighborhoods informed. We hope anyone looking to make a practical difference in our city will join us on August 26 to see how simple it is to get started.”
“Temple’s role in this partnership strengthens our core mission of supporting local media and civic literacy,” said Alvarez. “By leveraging lessons learned from the Documenters network across the country, we are excited to help create a more transparent, connected, and accessible public record for all of Philadelphia.”
The initiative launches with a comprehensive Budget Retrospective project in September, analyzing the pivotal fiscal discussions that shaped Philadelphia’s latest city budget.
Event Details: Documenters Philadelphia Relaunch
- Where: Philadelphia Ethical Society, 1906 Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA 19103
- When: Wednesday, August 26, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
- Registration: Free online here
During the launch event, visitors can learn more about the program through a hands-on, open house format through interactive activities:
- Meet the Team: Connect face-to-face with veteran Documenters, program leadership, and partners, to learn more about how Documenters works within the city’s existing reporting and civic engagement ecosystem.
- Get Involved: All attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about the upcoming budget retrospective and sign up immediately for an upcoming Documenters orientation.
- Documenters “Passport”: Attendees who attend all visiting stations can complete a card for a chance to win raffle prizes.
About the Committee of Seventy
The Committee of Seventy is a nonpartisan civic leadership organization that advances representative, ethical and effective government in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania through citizen engagement and public policy advocacy. For more information, visit seventy.org and follow the Committee of Seventy on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
The Philadelphia Documenters program is supported by the following partners:
About People’s Media Fund
Formerly known as WYBE Channel 35, the People’s Media Fund (PMF) was founded in 2018 when WYBE sold its broadcast license as part of the Federal Communications Commission’s Broadcast Incentive Auction and received a one-time payment of $131.5 million. With these funds, PMF supports Black-led, Indigenous-led, and people-of-color led media organizations and media making projects that help communities build their narrative power for equity and justice.
About Temple University’s Klein College of Media and Communication
Klein College is one of the premier colleges of media and communication in the country, deeply committed to civic engagement, community journalism, and public service. Through its hands-on academic programs and community partnerships, Klein College empowers the next generation of communicators to tell stories that matter and support a healthy information ecosystem across Greater Philadelphia.
About Wyncote Foundation
Wyncote Foundation works to support efforts that strengthen and enrich culture, community, and the natural environment. It works to further a vibrant, meaningful public media ecosystem, which is integral to a public sphere that enriches civic life, alongside parks, libraries, community colleges, land-grant universities, arts and cultural institutions and a vigorous free press. It supports public media that furthers cultural and creative expression, that stimulates civic engagement, and journalism that provides essential information and analysis that are vital to informed communities in a democratic society.
Media Contact:
Members of the media are invited to attend. Please RSVP to Ross Weisman at rweisman@seventy.org.