We’re celebrating Democracy Day with a new journalism partnership

You are part of something bigger.

That’s how we describe an exciting, new collaboration among inewsource, KPBS and Voice of San Diego. This effort, called Public Matters, will underscore and strengthen the importance of bringing people together to make our communities better.

Starting tomorrow and over the next three years, the three of us – the major nonprofit, nonpartisan media in San Diego and Imperial counties – will work together to amplify voices, to encourage the democratic process and to build bridges to soften the polarization that has grown across the country.

It is fitting that Public Matters will start in the wake of Democracy Day today, Sept. 15. This is an international day recognized by the United Nations.

Here’s how UN Secretary-General António Guterres describes it: “The International Day of Democracy is an opportunity to reinforce the importance of upholding free speech, civil liberties, and the rule of law; ensuring accountable institutions; and protecting and promoting human rights.”

Hundreds of newsrooms are participating in Democracy Day to extol the privileges, responsibilities and joys of living in a democracy. These messages are critical in this time of disinformation and misinformation that have diminished the public’s trust of the media and government institutions. It is a time when even the word democracy can conjure suspicions.

The Public Matters project is built on the premise that a neighborhood, a community, a county, a state, a country are all stronger when we engage each other in conversation and participate in local decision-making. To that end, inewsource, KPBS and Voice of San Diego will share content, conversation and events that ensure all San Diegans know that taking part in the democratic process means more than voting in an election. It is about reminding us that we have a shared humanity, and together we are empowered to make positive change.

As nonprofit news organizations, we have a responsibility to educate and take part in the democratic process.

inewsource has been known for its investigative and accountability reporting that for 15 years has changed laws and improved lives. From shining a light on impossible choices at the end-of-life to exposing illegal rent increases on the county’s poorest tenants, we are proud of how we have served the community with tangible and positive impacts. This kind of reporting is journalism’s gold standard: watchdogging local government and the officials who run it and revealing injustices that threaten local democracy.

inewsource has also been recognized for prioritizing community by launching the nationally recognized Documenters program, which trains and pays community members to attend public meetings here in San Diego County and take notes – getting the votes and the quotes.

We have trained more than 158 people to be Documenters since February, and they have recorded the actions at more than 76 meetings of city councils, school boards, commissions and community councils. Their work has made a difference. They have found violations of the state meeting law and given people a heads-up on upcoming actions that could impact their lives.

On this Democracy Day, we are grateful for the opportunity to work alongside the community to strive for greater government transparency and accessibility. Consider your individual role in democracy and share those thoughts with friends, family and coworkers. With some effort together, we can be part of something bigger.