News for Digital Journalists

September 12, 2011

Code for America partners with cities: Detroit, Macon, Philadelphia

This week the Code for America program announced its first 2012 partner cities: Detroit; Macon, GA; and Philadelphia. Teams of three CFA fellows will be deployed in each city to help local government officials “brainstorm and implement innovative applications to engage citizens…”

Each team will include a software developer, a designer, and a product manager. Here’s what they’ll be doing while deployed:

Detroit. Building software to engage residents in addressing urban blight.
Philadelphia. Extend and upgrade that city’s Change by Us platform, and promote its wider adoption.
Macon. Implementing a variety of digital tools to stimulate civic participation by residents.

This effort is supported with funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s Technology for Engagement initiative. Additional 2012 partner cities will be announced later.

These initiatives represent an opportunity for news organizations and info/community venues in the partner cities to assist with, and amplify, civic engagement efforts. This can not only help your community—it also can speed your own digital learning process and help build awareness of the local news and information you offer.

The News for Digital Journalists blog is made possible by a grant to USC Annenberg from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.