We’re proud to share that the CalMatters Digital Democracy team, whose AI-powered platform was developed in partnership with Fueled, has won a Northern California Emmy Award. The award recognizes an investigative segment by CalMatters and CBS News that used the Digital Democracy platform to expose how key fentanyl legislation was quietly blocked in California without a vote—an insight only made possible through Digital Democracy’s data tools.
The video piece, “Using new AI, grieving moms discover California lawmakers killed popular fentanyl bill by not voting,” is available on the CBS News website.
A New Standard for Civic Transparency
Digital Democracy is a first-of-its-kind platform that makes California’s political and legislative system searchable, trackable, and understandable. From transcripts and campaign contributions to voting records and committee hearings, the platform turns complex government data into accessible insights, empowering both citizens and journalists.
Our team partnered with CalMatters and the Institute For Advanced Technology and Public Policy at California Polytechnic State University to bring this ambitious vision to life. The result is a tool that serves everyone from engaged voters to investigative reporters; a public resource that’s intuitive, transparent, and purpose-built for civic engagement. Read more about how we designed and built the platform in our full case study.
Since launching in 2024, the Digital Democracy team and its digital platform has garnered wide recognition, including the Punch Sulzberger Award for Journalism Innovation, a regional Edward R. Murrow Award, and now, an Emmy. Each award underscores the importance of making public records more accessible and actionable.
Technology with a Mission
At Fueled, we’re committed to building digital experiences that don’t just look good—they solve problems, drive engagement, and move missions forward. Digital Democracy is a testament to what’s possible when bold ideas meet thoughtful execution.
We’re honored to have played a role in this milestone and congratulate the CalMatters newsroom and their partners at CBS News on this well-deserved recognition.
If you’re interested in building award-winning tools that make an impact, get in touch.
