In this Lightning Talk, Jim Haddadin introduces Meeting Monitor, a pilot project from Connecticut Public that uses artificial intelligence to cover local news in underserved areas. The initiative addresses the massive 75% decline in journalism jobs in the U.S. By using technology, the project fills gaps in municipal governance oversight. It functions as an automated monitoring system for communities lacking reporters.
The system monitors online government videos to transcribe and draft stories. Using large language models, it automates the first stage of reporting. This process is highly efficient, costing only a few cents per meeting. Crucially, the AI does not publish directly to the public website. Drafts go to an internal Slack channel for human editorial review.
The tool has already uncovered local corruption, like excessive official spending. It also detected rare dolphins in Long Island Sound through meeting logs. These examples prove that AI can find stories that would otherwise vanish. Meeting Monitor revitalizes local agendas by making oversight affordable again. It offers a sustainable path for the future of community-focused journalism.
Don’t miss the complete analysis! Watch the full presentation by Jim Haddadin at Media Party 2025.
Speaker Profile
Jim Haddadin
Investigative editor, Connecticut Public (USA)
