Wisconsin Watch

Managing editor Jim Malewitz writes in our Wednesday Report newsletter today about how our newsroom is navigating the present: "Whether you love or loathe the sweeping change in Washington, this much is clear: It will deeply affect the lives of Wisconsin residents. For many people, that’s already begun — whether they rely on a canceled contract, lost their federal job or face a service disruption. The sheer volume of consequential storylines worth exploring could paralyze journalists, tempting them to spend more time reacting to officials than listening to the public’s information needs." Read more about how we're keeping it local: https://lnkd.in/eAHVEBkB

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Republican lawmakers continue to dig in their heels during a years-long tug-of-war over how regulators should hold property owners liable for contamination caused by “forever chemicals” known as PFAS. via Wisconsin Watch https://lnkd.in/ePwPUFyY

One of the best uses of my time each week is reading Wisconsin Watch's "Wisconsin Weekly" email newsletter. It's a great summary, compiled by the tireless Jim Malewitz, of the week's biggest stories from (and here's the best part) MULTIPLE NEWS SOURCES. At some point, many of us in the media industry forgot to highlight great reporting, regardless of who's doing it. Recommend! https://lnkd.in/giFPfZY7

Anyone who has ever had to grapple with finding reliable care for a loved one knows the difficulties of navigating health care systems. In the course of her reporting for Wisconsin Watch, Addie Costello talks to people who have used our 'tips form' to contact us about the problems they face. She writes: "Some of those tips resulted in stories, like one that examined a trend of?privatizing county nursing homes. Most helped me recognize that our state’s long-term care system needed broader, more sustained coverage. They led me to stories about?people who lost Medicaid access,?assisted living closures?and?state budget battles affecting long-term care." Not every tip becomes an article but every tip shapes our understanding of the issues that need to be addressed in our state. Read more about Addie's process -- including her phone-pacing habit -- in her essay here: https://lnkd.in/etYdBarg

With a car weighed down by plenty of granola, trail mix and Goldfish crackers, Wisconsin Watch photojournalist Joe Timmerman, videographer Trisha Young and reporter Bennet Goldstein spent a stretch of October driving through Wisconsin’s Driftless Area and Central Sands to report a series of solutions-focused news stories. They sought to learn how beavers and their dams could mitigate severe flooding and drought, which Wisconsin and other Midwestern states increasingly face due to climate change. It didn't feel right to report that story without at least trying to make contact with the primary source. Read about their quest: https://buff.ly/4141lvD

Last year 43 people in Wisconsin died while waiting for a kidney transplant. Another 65 became too sick to receive a transplant. Mike Crowley, CEO of the National Kidney Foundation of Wisconsin wanted to be a part of the solution. He knew he was healthy enough to do so. On his 60th birthday last August, he rode his bicycle 102 miles from Wisconsin to Iowa in less than eight hours as part of a fundraiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. When he crossed the finish line, he looked at the Mississippi River and wept as he reflected on how amazing he felt after the grueling ride. If he could pass the strict medical, social, mental health and financial assessments, “why wouldn’t I be a kidney donor?” Read more: https://buff.ly/3WJbGKJ

Phoebe Petrovic, who reported this story, will be part of a live Zoom event this Wednesday discussing her coverage of extremism over the past year. The event is free but registration is required. We welcome your questions in advance, which you can submit through the RSVP form here: https://lnkd.in/gn3nBvQS

?? Job alert: Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, an independent division of Wisconsin Watch and an award-winning hyperlocal nonprofit newsroom that covers Black and brown communities in Milwaukee, seeks a managing editor to take us to new heights in journalism and community engagement. This is a key role in our 14-year-old newsroom, and we are looking for someone who is both a champion of excellent journalism as well as a champion of the people who produce the excellent work. We seek someone with top-notch leadership skills and impeccable news judgment. Applicants must be committed to collaboration, appreciate diversity and inclusion and have a passion for coaching a talented newsroom while juggling multiple projects. https://lnkd.in/dmehZ5fq #managingeditor #jobalert #journalismjobs

Did Wisconsin taxpayers pay $1.6 million over an abortion restriction law that was ruled unconstitutional? Wisconsin Watch: YES https://lnkd.in/gUDAuJU9

#ICYMI, here is a great read from Wisconsin Watch on how mock beaver dams work, and what makes them such great tools for wetland restoration. https://lnkd.in/gMkDsGya