To get the most out of your Listen dashboard, you can narrow your focus using Topics. Topics include Preset Topics applied automatically by Zencity's AI, and Custom Topics created by you, your colleagues, or the Zencity team.
Topic filtering is available at the top of your summary tab in the Listen dashboard. Click the "Topic" button to choose from the dropdown, or type in a specific topic to find it quickly.
What are Preset Topics?
Preset Topics are automatically assigned to every story item in the Listen dashboard using Zencity's AI classification model. They help you quickly filter conversations by urban issue area without any setup.
Preset topics include:
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These topics appear as filters throughout your dashboard and can also serve as a starting point when creating a Custom or DIY Topic.
What are Custom Topics?
Custom Topics (formerly known as Projects in Listen) are a flexible way to focus your analysis on the issues that matter most to your community. While Zencity’s AI automatically organizes all incoming data into predefined preset topics—like Public Safety, Transportation, or Education—Custom Topics let you define your own areas of interest.
Custom Topics are ideal for:
- General, recurring priorities like housing, budgeting, or public infrastructure
- Timely events such as natural disasters, strikes, or protests
- Local initiatives like redevelopment projects, rezoning proposals, or community engagement efforts
- Tracking public response to policies, announcements, or controversial decisions
Once created, Custom Topics help you:
- Continuously monitor related conversations as they unfold
- Analyze sentiment and trends over time
- Set up automated digests and alerts for key shifts in the conversation
- Quickly generate reports for leadership, council, or internal departments
How Do I View Topics?
With the transition from Projects to Topics, you'll now access all issue-specific analysis—whether created by Zencity or customized by your team—directly from your main Listen dashboard.
To view Topics:
- Use the Topics filter at the top of your Listen dashboard to select any Topic—either a Zencity-defined preset Topic or a Custom Topic created by you, your colleagues, or your Account Strategy team.
- Once selected, your dashboard will display only the data items relevant to that Topic, including sentiment, volume, source breakdown, and top narratives.
If you create a Custom Topic, it will automatically be added to your "Follow" list. Any topics that you are following will be starred and surfaced to the top of your list.
Custom Topics with the most interactions will appear in the On Your Desk widget. If none are followed yet, this widget will suggest active Topics with high engagement in your community.
🧭 Note: Previously, these settings were located in the “Projects” tab. That tab will soon be retired; all functionality now lives within the Topics filter on your dashboard
How Do I Get and Manage Updates About My Topics?
Custom Topic digests are the best way to stay informed about the issues you’re tracking.
To set up or manage digests:
- Go to the Subscriptions tab in your Settings menu.
- Scroll to the Listen Subscription section.
- Click "Create Digest" next to "Custom topic digest.
You can choose to receive updates daily, weekly, or on a custom schedule, and include colleagues to keep them in the loop.
When you follow a new Topic, you’ll also be prompted to schedule a digest immediately—making it easy to set up updates as part of your workflow.
📬 These digests are especially helpful for keeping leadership, communications staff, or department heads informed with minimal effort. Previously, digests were tied to “Projects”—they now apply seamlessly to Custom Topics.
How Do I Create a Custom Topic?
To create a Listen-only topic:
- Click Take Action from the top right of your dashboard summary tab, then click Create a Topic.
- Choose your method:
- Use a Template: Start with a pre-defined structure for a common issue
- Build from Scratch: Use keywords, filters, and other options to define the Topic manually
- Use Smart Topics: Let AI generate a Topic for you based on your title, description, and suggested keywords
- Request Help: Ask your Zencity team to set one up for you
To create a DIY Topic (cross-module):
- Navigate to the Topics page in the main navigation and click "New Topic" at the top right of the page.
- The wizard guides you through configuring Listen, Surveys (Ask), and Collaborative Activities data, depending on your product bundle.
For a more in-depth explanation of creating a topic, check out [this help article].
For a more in-depth explanation of creating a topic, check out this help article.
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