Fiscal Note
No appropriation required.
Title
Opposing a state legislative proposal to remove the Wisconsin
Center for Investigative Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus and to
forbid university employees from working with the
Center.
Body
WHEREAS, on June 5, the Wisconsin Legislature’s budget-writing committee, with no public warning, approved a measure evicting the Wisconsin
Center for Investigative Journalism from its campus offices and
forbidding university employees from working with the
Center; and
WHEREAS, many journalists,
journalism educators and members of the public say the
Center’s collaboration with the UW-Madison School of
Journalism and Mass Communications must be saved because it’s an important experiment in a future model
for investigative reporting and
journalism education. The
center has produced high-impact stories while training young journalists; and
WHEREAS, the measure would prohibit the Board of Regents from permitting the
Center for Investigative Journalism to occupy any facilities owned or leased by the Board of Regents. In addition, it would prohibit UW employees from doing any work related to the
Center for Investigative Journalism as part of their duties as a UW employee; and
WHEREAS, though the measure was placed in the Budget Bill, the
Center receives no funding from the University of Wisconsin. Its $400,000 budget is supported by private foundations, individuals and news organizations. It operates in two small offices in Vilas Communication Hall under a Facilities Use Agreement that requires the
Center to provide paid internships, classroom collaborations, guest lectures and other educational services; and
WHEREAS, the
Center is an independent, nonprofit and nonpartisan organization based in Madison that collaborates with other media outlets to improve the quality and quantity of
investigative journalism in Wisconsin. It focuses on government integrity and quality of life issues; and
WHEREAS, the Joint...
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