In 2024 Buffalo’s Fire became a part of the nationwide Documenters Network, reinforcing our dedication to community-focused journalism. Documenters are community members, and a collective of civic contributors trained to cover local government meetings and events, who focus on accountability, transparency and civic coverage in the Bismarck/Mandan area. We’re the first Indigenous-led and first-rural cohort of the Documenters Network.
The goal of Bismarck Documenters is simple: We want to put people in the rooms where decisions are made that impact us all.
Public meetings are essential workshops for democracy. These meetings enable residents to learn about and take action on the systems that impact their lives. However, many public meetings are inaccessible and can be intimidating.
To address this problem, Bismarck Documenters is putting the “public” back in public meetings. We train, incentivize and pay local citizens to document community meetings and local government. Anyone can become a documenter by signing up and attending a documenter workshop.
Bismarck Documenters was inspired by the first Documenters program created in Chicago, in 2016, and we are a part of the National Documenters Network.
Bismarck’s Documenters is powered by Buffalo’s Fire, a nonprofit, nonpartisan digital news site. We produce independent journalism to enhance the quality of life for Native communities through news coverage that informs and engages, and lifts up our stories to the broader culture. Our mission is to improve the civil liberties of Indigenous people through research, advocacy, and nation building by employing the core values of integrity, inclusivity and transparency.
Why Join Documenters?
Being informed brings power to a community! That’s why Buffalo’s Fire introduced the Bismarck Documenters program. It’s all about boosting transparency, covering public meetings in a fresh way, and sparking civic engagement in our city. We train the Documenters to attend these meetings, note down the key points, and share them with the public.
So many important conversations in Bismarck/Mandan happen behind closed doors, hidden away in boardrooms without an audience. As a Documenter, you have the power to change that.
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 on the Great Plains more accessible and representative of our communities.
By joining our network you’ll have access to:
- Free trainings, workshops, events and paid assignments
- The Documenters message board
- Opportunities from local and national Documenters partners
Step 2: Attend a Training Workshop
This two-hour training 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.
Bismarck Documenters Training 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 $17-24/hr depending on complexity and distance. We support Documenters throughout the reporting process and publish their edited notes for other media, organizations, and residents to use. During assignments, you will:
- Connect with other community members
- Report on public meetings
- Update the community about the systems that impact their lives
Step 4. Involve YOUR Community
Documenters are leaders, people who can be relied on for information and knowledge. Through community, anything is possible. We need the help of Documenter leaders to motivate, educate, and activate their friends, family and neighbors to join the Documenters movement.
As a Bismarck Documenter leader, you will:
- Motivate, educate, and activate your fellow community members to join the movement
- Help us evolve our program to be more accessible/effective
- Support fellow Documenters to thrive in our program
Head over to Bismarck Documenters to:
- Read published notes
- Browse upcoming meetings
- Sign up for alerts on the next workshop training for new Documenters.
- Read a brief field guide on what’s recommended
Submit a Meeting or Story Tip
Got an idea on something we should cover? Name and email not required to submit a tip but include them if you want to keep in touch.