CHICAGO, Nov. 5 -- The Better Government Association is proud to be the recipient of a $60,000 "News Matters" grant from the John S. & James L. Knight Foundation and the Chicago Community Trust. BGA Executive Director Andy Shaw said, "This award will facilitate the training of a team of 'watchdogs' to monitor the activities of governmental entities that too often escape scrutiny from local media."

The BGA will train reporters to help evaluate budgets and contracts, monitor government activities and report their findings to the public. Shaw added, "We plan to train graduate students, senior citizens, community leaders, educators and ordinary citizens to use the tools we use including the Freedom of Information Act, investigative journalism techniques and data-mining so they can become government watchdogs in venues where none exist today."

The BGA's grant is designed to help develop the important intersection of investigative journalism and civic engagement on an unprecedented scale. The BGA's goal is to train and organize people willing to attend Water Reclamation Board meetings, Pace and Metra hearings, school board and local school council meetings, Tollway Board meetings and report on any other government operations that receive little or no scrutiny.

Learn more about the Better Government Association and join our fight to end the corruption tax and bring integrity, honesty and openness back to government. Visit our website at bettergov.org or call us at 312-427-8330.