Civic Transparency Toolkit

Since 2005, more than 2,500 U.S. newspapers have closed. City councils still meet. Budgets still get passed. Contracts still get awarded. But in most communities, nobody is reading any of it.

The Toolkit helps a human operator collect public-record sources, run a multi-step review pipeline, organize findings, and export draft civic reporting. It is the desktop version of the Civic Newsroom prompt workflow.

Human review required. The app assists with source handling, workflow execution, and drafting. It does not independently certify facts or produce publish-ready reporting.

See the App Workflow Download the App View Source on GitHub Compare App vs Prompt Version

What the App Helps You Do

Run a repeatable workflow

Chain the core prompt stages without manual copy-paste.

Keep sources organized

Configure URLs, transcripts, and inputs in one place.

Export reviewable output

Save drafts, notes, and supporting materials for further editing.

Advanced modes

Daily monitoring workflow
Signal investigation workflow
Topic-based research workflow
Combined deep-dive workflow
Individual tool access

Workflow Protections

The Toolkit is designed to reduce common AI reporting failures by forcing more explicit sourcing, counter-checking, and review steps. It does not guarantee correctness. It makes weak or unresolved work easier to spot before publication.

Structured counter-checking

A mandatory multi-gate protocol forces verification attempts across multiple sources within a defined timeframe. Contested claims can't advance without documented counter-checking.

Primary-source grounding

Every claim must trace to primary public records. Other outlets' coverage can tell you what to look for — it can never be your source.

Suppression and hold paths

Every suppressed or held story gets a record: why it was held, what was missing, and what would reopen it. Nothing disappears silently.

Independent review step

Every output must pass an independent review audit before it reaches you. No agent can self-certify its own output as ready.

Shared source standards

The entire workflow is built on consistent editorial standards. These standards are open, auditable, and the same across all deployment modes.

Choose Your Format

Both versions run the same core editorial logic. Both require human review. Both depend on source quality and operator judgment.