UPDATE: Spokane Documenters is on pause while we work to find funding to continue the program and make sure it thrives. In the meantime, stay in the loop on public meetings with CIVICS. (Interested in funding or partnering on Documenters? Reach out!)
This program builds on the strength of our CIVICS newsletter to further RANGE’s mission to give everyone the tools to better understand what is happening in our corridors of power and make their voice heard.
Documenters are community members and can’t replace the work a full-time reporter does. They can, though, cover more ground, documenting meetings reporters don’t always have time for, so that reporters — and members of the public — can better understand what happened and follow up.
INW Documenters participate in several RANGE projects, including, but not limited to attending and documenting public governance meetings and civic events and engaging in projects designed to increase the role of reporting and storytelling in public discourse. Documenters are paid and their work is used by journalists, organizers, researchers and more.
All INW Documenters content is available under Creative Commons, ensuring everyone has access to the information they need.
Sign up for our Documenters newsletter below!
How to become a Documenter
Step 1: Create an account at Documenters.org
Documenters are regular people and civic actors. They are our collaborators in empowering our community to demand better. Documenters are making local journalism in the Inland Northwest more accessible and representative of our communities.
By joining our network you’ll have access to:
- Free trainings, events and paid assignments
- The Documenters message board
- Opportunities from local and national Documenters partners
Step 2: Attend an Orientation
This two-hour orientation will introduce you to the program and the reporting skills you’ll need. Once you complete this workshop, you’ll be eligible to apply for paid assignments.
INW Documenters Orientation includes:
- A walk-through of the program
- How to complete assignments
- What your rights are at public meetings
Step 3: Start Taking Assignments
Documenters are paid $16/hr. We support Documenters throughout the reporting process and publish their edited reporting for other media, organizations and residents to use and make decisions in their day-to-day lives.
During assignments, you will:
- Connect with other community members
- Report on government meetings
- Update the community about the systems that impact their lives
Questions about INW Documenters? Want to partner? Email documenters@rangemedia.co
