The Macon Melody uncovers the quiet rise of powerful authorities

Laura Corley has been reporting in her hometown of Macon, Ga., for more than a dozen years. A veteran of multiple local news organizations who has worked nearly all the beats, from breaking news to business and education, she joined The Macon Melody shortly after its 2024 launch. Her work, focused on accountability journalism, is funded by a grant from the Peyton Anderson Foundation. 

In the course of her reporting, Corley started attending board meetings for local authorities in Macon-Bibb County and realized how many of these quasi-governmental bodies operate out of the spotlight, yet wield immense power. 

“I got to thinking that people don’t even know what these boards do, what powers they have and how much influence these small units of government have on their lives,” she said. ”I think if we can empower people with knowledge about the folks making these big decisions and how they’re made, that’s incredibly important for civic health.”

Corley said local authorities have quietly proliferated across the state in recent years. These authority boards set priorities for housing, transportation, water, sewage, hospitals, land, industrial development and more. Although they’re created by municipal governments, the board members – who make consequential decisions on behalf of the public – are often appointed, not elected. 

Through a series of articles that kicked off this month, The Melody is spotlighting Macon-Bibb County’s authority boards to inform readers about these entities’ powers, histories, impacts and the individuals who serve on them. 

"Community journalism is about more than covering meetings or announcements,” said Joshua Wilson, executive editor of The Melody. “It’s about helping people understand the systems that shape their lives, and this series is one way The Melody is doing that work in Macon."

Corley has already received positive feedback and gratitude from community members for the work. 

“Knowledge is power, and I hope they feel more empowered to engage with these units of local government,” she said. “These board meetings might not be packed to the gills, but somebody needs to watch what’s going on, and we’re doing that on behalf of the public at The Melody.”