A web-based resource for local journalists to collect and share links to local governments’ day-to-day proceedings.

See the Project home page here.

The Covid-19 pandemic is exacerbating a silent problem Kansas City was already facing. The regular, daily business of local government is crucial to the lives of the public. But covering this day-to-day activity is challenging for news organizations. The KC metro area hosts 119 city governments. City business meetings are often public, but there are not enough reporters to cover all that is happening at all times. Much of these goings on are not notable enough to be “newsworthy,” so the public does not demand this kind of coverage.

In the face of this public health emergency, journalism resources are being stretched even thinner, and the daily happenings of local government is getting even less attention. Media and citizen attention is rightly focused elsewhere.

However, the pandemic has forced local governments to move much business online. This presents an opportunity for fuller and more immediate coverage of local government proceedings.

Conceived and managed by local non-profit news outlet The Beacon, the Local Government Reporter fits seamlessly into this new normal. Local reporters, news outlets, and the public would benefit from this easier access to local government workings, during this crisis and after some normalcy returns.

This online dashboard will be a user-friendly aggregate of council and committee meeting notes, including agendas, minutes, and any available video archive.

The Beacon has convened a multi-outlet collaborative journalism approach that includes Shawnee Mission Post, Startland, the Jackson County Advocate, Northeast News, the Kansas Press Association, The Kansas City Star, KCUR 89.3, and the KLC Journal, and welcomes participation from other media outlets serving the KC metro area.

Check out the initial project canvas here.

• Bree Walter and Jason Lopez our working on an initial UX interviews with reporters from The Beacon, The Star, KCUR, and Shawnee Mission Post.
• Target date of April 22 for initial wireframes.
• Kelsey Ryan with The Beacon is working with the J School at Mizzou to identify student interns to start reviewing local government websites, collecting links to council meetings, and documenting what formats are used to collect, share, and categorize.
• Need: Biggest need right now (4/10/20) is for technical support to provide the vision and execution once we have a wireframe and collection of web addresses where content is located. Email [email protected] if you'd like to get involved.

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• Join us at our Monday hack night
• Join the Slack channel
• Email [email protected] for more info
• Share the Project Card with developers, designers, or others who may be interested to get involved