In summary
CalMatters harnesses the power of big data, AI, and an easy-to-use interface to bring transparency and accountability to California’s policy choices.
CalMatters’ Digital Democracy is a powerful new way for Californians to understand and participate in their state government.
Digital Democracy is:
- A searchable database where anyone can access information to better understand issues.
- A website that brings state government to life for the public.
- A smart AI tool that searches the data and generates news tips for journalists.
“As a journalist who has been watching the California state government for nearly 30 years, it’s clear to me that the politicians and the decision-making process have become more opaque,” says David Lesher, CalMatters co-founder and senior editor, who’s leading the Digital Democracy initiative.
“The transparency created by Digital Democracy is about how the people we elect are weighing the special interests and the public interest when they make important decisions about our education, environment, health care, housing, transportation, prisons, taxes and more.”
The database
The public will now have access to more information about their legislators and the legislative process in one place than ever before. And it’s all easily searchable.
The database gathers an enormous amount of data from state government, including:
- Every word uttered in public hearings
- Every dollar given to a politician
- Every bill introduced
- Every vote taken, and much more
The website
Digital Democracy features a website and an easy-to-use portal that empowers people to view this data in new ways, connecting the dots among policy, legislators, and money.
People can:
- Browse or search the database.
- See the latest state agenda on six major topics, as curated by our reporters.
- Look up any of California’s 120 legislators to see data and stories about their activities, politics, policy interests, campaign finances, and personal backgrounds.
AI technology
The artificial intelligence scans all of that data and suggests story ideas to reporters at CalMatters and media organizations throughout the state. The resulting stories will be posted on web pages designed to introduce each of the state’s 120 legislators to a general audience, not just the insiders.
This technology doesn’t write stories, journalists will.
But the technology empowers journalists with dynamic tipsheets, finding data through-lines in a manner previously unheard of in government accountability coverage.