We the People/Wisconsin, Madison, WI 1996
Partners:
Wisconsin StateJournal
Wisconsin Public TV
Wisconsin Public Radio
WISC-TV (CBS)
Wood Communication Group
In the spring, a forum allowed citizens to question candidates for the Wisconsin Supreme Court in “You Be the Judge,” broadcast from the high court’s chambers. Citizens got the chance to assess the performance, structure and financing of the state’s public university system and recommend a course for its future in “The Future of the UW System.” Town hall meetings were held on campuses statewide and citizen recommendations were given to the UW regents.
In “Campaign for Control,” citizens from across Wisconsin descended on Madison to “take over” the state Senate chambers for a live, one-hour forum that allowed them to question legislators. “Talk of the House” gave citizens an unprecedented opportunity to add their voices to congressional campaigns. About 300 citizens in three sites were linked with the Republican and Democratic candidates for three hotly contested U.S. House seats. The forum, broadcast on five commercial and public television stations and statewide public radio, was viewed by more than 100,000 households statewide.
The State Journal and WISC_TV also started their “Schools of Hope” series, which has been credited with helping to improve Madison schools and won a Batten legacy award in 2002.
Contacts:
Deborah Still
Project Director
We The People/ Wisconsin
PO Box 5534
Madison, WI 53705
Phone: (608) 833-8545
Thomas W. Still
President
Wisconsin Technology Council
PO Box 71, 615 E. Washington Ave.
Madison, WI 53701-0071
TEL: (608) 442-7557
FAX: (608) 256-0333
EMAIL: tstill@wisctec.com
Tom Bier
General Manager
WISC-TV
7025 Raymond Rd.
Madison, WI 53719
TEL: (608) 271-5171
FAX: (608) 271-0800
EMAIL: tbier@wisctv.com
David Iverson
Executive Director
Best Practices in Journalism
2601 Mariposa St.
San Francisco, CA 94110
TEL: (415) 553-2489
EMAIL: iverson@wpt.org
James B. Wood
President
Wood Communications Group
700 Regent St.
Madison, WI 53715-1233
Phone: (608) 259-0757