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Mirror Indy outlines paid "Documenters" program and neighborhood engagement plans
Summary
Arianna Beatty, community journalism director for nonprofit Mirror Indy, described the outlet's neighborhood reporters, paid Documenters program, and regular "Chat and Chew" community conversations at the HOPE Team meeting.
Mirror Indy’s community journalism director, Arianna Beatty, told the HOPE Team on Tuesday that the nonprofit newsroom seeks to expand neighborhood reporting and civic participation through paid local reporting and public conversations.
Beatty said Mirror Indy launched in December 2023 and operates as a nonprofit newsroom focused on Marion County. "We tell the real, full, and multifaceted story of our city," she said, adding the organization has a 22-person newsroom with reporters assigned to beats including government, housing, health and neighborhood reporting.
Beatty described Documenters, a program that trains and pays residents to attend and take notes at public meetings. "We pay folks $20 an hour to go to meetings in person, but we also have virtual paid opportunities as well that's $18 an hour," she said. She said the orientation runs about an hour and a half and that Documenters brings reports from neighborhood meetings, council and board meetings into a single website to increase public accountability.
Beatty said Mirror Indy also hosts Chat and Chew events twice monthly — a daytime table at the start of the month and evening themed conversations later in the month — to solicit story ideas and build trust with neighborhood residents. She announced an evening Chat and Chew on Sept. 23 at the Martindale-Brightwood Library and said the next Documenters orientation is Sept. 18 (virtual). She also noted the newsroom runs two newsletters ('In the Mirror' and an arts-focused 'Playlist') and neighborhood texting lines to reach residents without consistent web access.
Community members asked about translations and access; Beatty said Mirror Indy has produced some Spanish, Burmese and Haitian Creole translations for important stories but that regular translation is not yet available and the newsroom is working on expanding language access.
Beatty encouraged attendees to sign up at mirrorindy.org and left business cards and stickers for follow-up.
Ending: Beatty remained after the meeting to speak with attendees and take contacts for Documenters and Chat and Chew events.
