Community-Powered Civic Reporting.
Helping Evansville residents stay informed about local government and public decision-making.
The Recorders program trains residents and students to attend public meetings and create structured public notes.
Recorders help document:
What happened
What decisions were made
What issues were discussed
What residents should know
The GOAL is SIMPLE:
To strengthen transparency, accountability, and public understanding.
Why Recorders?
Many Important Meetings Receive Little Coverage
Local boards and commissions regularly make decisions affecting roads, schools, redevelopment, parks, housing, public safety, utilities, and neighborhood investment.
But many of those meetings receive little or no public coverage.
Recorders help Evansville maintain visibility into local government and public institutions.
Who Can Be a Recorder?
Anyone interested in civic engagement can participate! No journalism experience is required.
Recorders receive:
Basic training
Structured note templates
Editorial guidance
Support from NewsLab and partner organizations
Meetings Covered
As the Our Times Recorders program grows, the capacity to cover civic meetings will grow with it. As of today, Our Times Recorders regularly cover:
Evansville City Council
Vanderburgh County Commissioners
Vanderburgh County Council
Evansville Vanderbrugh School Corporation School Board
Board of Park Commissioners
Board of Public Works
Board of Public Safety
Redevelopment Commission
Board Zoning Appeals
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