Democracy Works Best When the Public is in the Room
Every day, local government bodies make decisions that directly impact our schools, housing, streets, and safety. Yet, these public meetings often go unobserved and unrecorded. Philadelphia Documenters changes that by turning the inner workings of local government into clear, shared community knowledge.
As part of a proven nationwide network led by City Bureau, Philadelphia Documenters trains and pays everyday residents to attend public meetings, document what happens, and publish clear, accurate updates for their neighbors. By putting community members directly in the room, we ensure that public processes remain transparent, accessible, and accountable to the people they serve. Read how it’s all coming together.
Powered by the Committee of Seventy
Philadelphia Documenters is housed at the Committee of Seventy, Philadelphia’s nonpartisan champion for open, honest government and active civic engagement for over 120 years. Bringing Documenters to C70 puts our core mission directly into the hands of the community. By equipping residents with the tools to observe, document, and report, we build a more participatory, informed, and resilient democracy — together.
We are proud to partner with City Bureau and the Temple University Klein College of Media and Communication to bring Documenters back to Philadelphia, with additional generous support from the People’s Media Fund and the Wyncote Foundation.
Want a front-row seat to Philly civic life? Become a Philadelphia Documenter, and keep your community informed!
Click here to create your profile and sign up for an upcoming orientation.
FAQs:
Philadelphia Documenters is a nonpartisan initiative housed at the Committee of Seventy that trains and pays local residents to attend public local government meetings and produce official meeting notes. The program, based on a national model developed by City Bureau, makes local governance more transparent, accessible, and accountable to all Philadelphians.
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. We work closely with local partners to support and share Documenters’ work, including Temple University’s Klein College of Media and Communication, with generous support from the People’s Media Fund and the Wyncote Foundation.
Documenters attend public meetings, take detailed notes about what happened, and submit those notes for editing and publication.
Your job is to help someone who couldn’t attend the meeting understand what happened: who was there, what was discussed, what decisions were made, how officials voted, and what happens next.
No prior experience in journalism, government, or policy is required! We provide all the training and tools you need.
Documenters are paid independent contractors. The standard rate is $17 per hour, and a typical assignment includes a minimum of 3.5 hours of paid time:
- 30 minutes to prepare for the meeting
- 2 hours to attend and take notes
- 1 hour to clean up and submit your notes
Payment may vary depending on the length or requirements of an assignment.
Signing up is easy! Simply create an account on documenters.org, fill out the required information, and register for our next orientation. Once you attend, you can begin applying for assignments.
Assignments are posted on our website about a week in advance. Documenters can browse available meetings and apply for those that fit their schedules. Staff then assign meetings by the end of the week.
If you don’t receive an assignment, please feel free to apply for another one! The commitment is flexible: Once you’ve completed the training, you can apply as often as you like.
We cover public agencies across Philly, including the Board of Education, SEPTA Board, Philadelphia Land Bank, Parks & Rec, City Commissioners and others.
Assignments include both virtual and in-person meetings across the city.
Before taking assignments, every Documenter attends an orientation covering note-taking standards, ethics, and meeting navigation. You’ll also learn about key civic protections like the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act (Open Meetings Law), which guarantees your right to observe public meetings, and Fair Report Privilege, which protects accurate public interest reporting.
Documenters act as neutral “eyes and ears” for the public. Your role is to record what was discussed, who spoke, and how votes fell objectively. You have the opportunity to ask questions that you feel weren’t addressed during meetings, but without adding personal opinions or advocacy. Our editorial team reviews every submission to ensure accuracy and nonpartisanship.
After attending a meeting, you submit your notes within 24 hours. Once our editorial team reviews and approves your submission, your invoice is processed. You’ll receive a check within 14 days.
Your notes are professionally edited and posted online, and we also use the notes for our newsletter and social media (follow us on Facebook and Instagram!). Documenters’ notes are used by local news outlets, community organizers, neighborhood advocates, and residents to track city decisions that impact everyday life.
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