Wcij Inc

Programs: The wisconsin center for investigative journalism (wcij) offers one of the best models in the nation of a replicable nonprofit model for sustaining nonpartisan local and state investigative reporting while training current and future investigative journalists--thus informing the citizenry and strengthening democracy. Wcij is expanding its capacity to produce superb journalism and training--work made possible by its skilled development, public engagement and business team. Wcij, an independent news organization, collaborates with wisconsin public radio, wisconsin public television, other news organizations and the uw-madison school of journalism and mass communication. Our focus is on government integrity and quality of life issues--the environment, economy, education, health and the justice system. Since july 2009, wcij has produced more than 330 major news reports that have been cited, published or broadcast by more than 650 newspapers, radio and tv stations and news websites in wisconsin and nationwide. The estimated audience of the center's reports exceeds 64 million people. The center seeks to collaborate with, rather to simply compete against, other news organizations to maximize the use of resources. Reports are fact-checked to ensure accuracy and distributed free to news organizations, who are permitted to edit the stories or add their own reporting to meet the needs of their audiences. Housed in the university of wisconsin-madison school of journalism and mass communication, the center has a staff of four full-time professional journalists, three to four paid student interns who work as investigative reporters and public engagement and marketing assistants, part-time staff members and skilled volunteers who assist in journalistic and financial operations. The center also collaborates with journalism classes on investigative news projects. A nationally acclaimed board of directors, including experts in investigative journalism, nonprofit journalism and nonprofit financial management, guides and oversees the center and determines policies, while day-to-day operations, including news coverage decisions, are handled by the staff. In recent months, the center released groundbreaking investigations that reached every corner of the state on topics including the environment, the criminal justice system and immigration. We produce in-depth investigations that are not yet being covered around the state, prompting discussions on issues that are important to the people of wisconsin.