Impact Tracker

*Track whether your civic media recipe is actually meeting the community's needs.*

*When to use:* After launch, on whatever timeline fits the project. For a fuller approach, see Hearken's Return on Engagement (ROE) framework, which measures impact through connection, amplification, recognition, and care.

1. Before You Start — Write 3 specific, realistic changes you hope to see.
2. Check In: Early Signs — Who's showing up (how many, who came back, who's new, who's missing)? What energy do you see (people asking when the next one is, bringing friends, suggesting ideas, taking ownership, showing up without reminders)? When will you follow up?
3. What's Actually Changing? — At your follow-up point, check the signals for your need type.
4. Collect 3 Stories — For each: who, what small thing changed, and a quote if you have one.
5. What's Not Working? — What resistance are you seeing, from whom, about what (and what could overcome it)? What's harder than expected? Who's not participating, and why?
6. Quick Assessment — Keep doing (what's working enough to continue), stop doing (what wastes energy without value), try next (what small adjustment might help).
7. Some Harder Questions — Is this meeting a real need or just keeping people busy? Would participants do this without you? Who benefits most, the community or the institution? Be honest.
8. Share What You're Learning — With participants, and with others trying similar work. How?

Details

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• source note: From the Civic Media Cookbook: 'Producing Civic Media: Recipes to Produce Civic Media Through Participation, Power and Community' — Jihii Jolly and Jennifer Brandel, with the News Futures Working Group (2026).
• when to use: After launch, on whatever timeline fits the project. For a fuller approach, see Hearken's Return on Engagement (ROE) framework, which measures impact through connection, amplification, recognition, and care.