Civic Journalism: Six Case Studies
MADISON, WIS.
"We the People, Wisconsin"

The partners have had to learn to judge success not by the numbers, but by the quality of the discussion.

To that end, "We the People" often provides materials that aid and often encourage discussion.

For instance, participants in "The People's State Budget" work sessions received a nine-page handout with "rules" for writing the budget, descriptions of the challenges in eight different areas and a check list of choices. Each participant could choose one option per budget area. Each packet also contained a reprint of budget charts from the State Journal. The partners worked with state budget officials and a taxpayers' watchdog group to narrow nearly 3,000 pages and myriad topics to eight issues and nine pages. Still turned the results into a handout that was produced by the State Journal.

With that information in hand, participants had enough background to make difficult choices.

Decisions to spend more than the governor's recommendation had to be balanced by raising taxes, delaying property tax relief, making deeper cuts in another program or pushing spending into the next budget cycle. Money saved by cutting more than the governor recommended had to be used to cut income or sales taxes, provide more property tax relief, spend more on another program or increase the budget surplus.

On some occasions, the partners distributed booklets or stapled sheaves of paper with photocopies of relevant newspaper articles. The 75 participants in "You Be the Judge" were given 17 stapled pages with articles about the two candidates, the campaign and the state Supreme Court.

In the last weeks of the 1994 statewide election, "We the People" even encouraged voters to stop by the State Journal offices for free copies of the partners' "Voter's Self-Defense Manual." The manual contained State Journal articles on campaign issues, profiles of candidates, political job descriptions and a guide to watching political ads.

Callers to Wisconsin Public Television's toll-free number could ask to have a copy mailed to them. Overall, about 300 copies were distributed.

At registration, each person is given a large white envelope bearing the "We the People" logo. The content varies but usually includes a name tag, a welcome page explaining the process, a "We the People" fact sheet with background about the project and details about that particular event, a question form, note paper, and a pen.

Other items help the partners more than the participants: an anonymous participant survey, a photo release form and, if the town hall meeting precedes the debate or televised program, an invitation to attend the next event and a registration form with space for a question the participant would like raised. The form has a check box for people who can't attend but want to receive information about "We the People."

Reporters covering the televised events receive a glossy folder that includes copies of the information provided to participants, details about the partners and the event's sponsors, a list of the pre-registered participants, a media contact sheet, clips from past coverage, and logos for black and white reproduction.