Community Members Can Help Strengthen Local News Coverage
Local public meetings shape our schools, towns, and daily lives, however, they often go uncovered. Now, New Hampshire residents have an opportunity to help change that.
The Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications and the Granite State News Collaborative are launching the Spring 2026 Civic Documenters program, a community-powered journalism initiative that trains residents to support local newsroom coverage of public meetings.
What Is a Civic Documenter?
Civic Documenters are trained community members who attend meetings such as town councils, school boards, planning boards, and other civic bodies. They take detailed notes and produce clear, news-style summaries that local newsrooms can publish or build upon.
The goal is simple: make sure important civic conversations are documented and accessible to the public.
Practical Training, Real-World Impact
The Spring 2026 program begins on February 25 and includes six weeks of training. The first five sessions are held online on Wednesday evenings hosted by the Loeb School. The final session takes place in person at each participant’s assigned newsroom.
Participants learn how to:
Track and interpret meeting agendas
Take effective, accurate notes
Identify newsworthy issues and decisions
Use AI tools responsibly to draft summaries
Understand how local newsrooms work
No prior journalism experience is required. The program is designed for community members who are curious, engaged, and reliable.
Why It Matters
“Public meetings are where decisions happen,” said Melanie Plenda, executive director of the Granite State News Collaborative. “This program allows community members to play a meaningful role in strengthening local journalism while helping ensure those meetings don’t go uncovered.”
Civic Documenters are paid $50 per meeting and work directly with participating newsrooms across the state. The Spring 2026 cohort will include up to 15 documenters supporting up to five local news organizations.
Apply by February 6
If you’re interested in local government, civic engagement, or supporting community journalism, we encourage you to apply.
👉 Applications are due February 6, 2026, and participants will be notified by February 13.
At the Loeb School, we believe practical skills and informed communities are essential to a healthy democracy. The Civic Documenters program puts both into action.