Founded by journalists, the Massachusetts government information company will continue serving customers while helping Boston Globe Media strengthen state and local reporting.
Boston Globe Media has acquired InstaTrac, a Massachusetts-based government information company that has helped professionals, organizations, public officials and communities understand state and local government activity for more than 30 years.
“We see tremendous opportunity to invest in this platform, grow it and explore new ways it can support both the customers who rely on it and the journalists who serve our communities,” said Linda Henry, CEO, Boston Globe Media.
Founded by former journalist Michael Segal and originally launched in partnership with the former Phoenix Media Group, InstaTrac provides subscription-based services that make government information easier to find, track and understand.
Its products include MassTrac, a legislative tracking and government intelligence platform covering activity on Beacon Hill, and MuniTrac, a growing municipal service that provides searchable access to local meetings, agendas, minutes and transcripts across Massachusetts.
The acquisition expands Boston Globe Media’s ability to access and analyse government information while creating new opportunities to strengthen reporting, support transparency and innovate in local journalism.
“InstaTrac has built something incredibly valuable over the last three decades,” said Henry. “Michael and his team recognized early on that people don’t just need access to information – they need help understanding what it means. That philosophy aligns directly with our mission at Boston Globe Media.”
InstaTrac’s services are used by a wide range of subscribers, including public officials, government affairs professionals, nonprofit organizations, businesses, researchers and municipal leaders.
“What excites me about this partnership is that Boston Globe Media understands the value of trusted information. They believe in what we’ve built and are committed to helping us continue to grow,” said Michael Segal, founder, InstaTrac, who will remain with the company.
The acquisition also creates opportunities to strengthen the Globe’s journalism through enhanced access to legislative and municipal information across Massachusetts.
For Globe journalists, the platform offers new ways to monitor government activity, identify emerging stories and explore innovative approaches to state and local reporting.
The company expects InstaTrac’s growing municipal data and transcript services to support expanded coverage of communities throughout the region.
“We see tremendous opportunity to invest in this platform, grow it and explore new ways it can support both the customers who rely on it and the journalists who serve our communities,” Henry said.
Boston Globe Media emphasized that the company will continue operating its existing services and supporting its current customers.
“In the near term, InstaTrac customers can expect the same commitment, the same expertise and the same focus on helping them understand government activity. In the months ahead we’ll invest even more in the future of the platform to provide additional value to existing and new customers,” said Dhiraj Nayar, President, Boston Globe Media.
“Shira Center, our vice president of innovation and strategic initiatives, will lead InstaTrac’s integration across the Globe, ensuring its data and capabilities strengthen our journalism, products and value to readers,” he said.
The InstaTrac team will join Boston Globe Media as part of the transition.
