Wisconsin: Walker/GOP use legislation to silence critics

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Last edited Fri Jun 7, 2013, 09:46 AM - Edit history (1)

http://www.news.wisc.edu/releases/17996

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
6/5/13

CONTACT: Andy Hall, [e-mail]; Greg Downey, 608-695-4310, [e-mail]
University of Wisconsin - Madison news release


UNIVERSITY REAFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM

MADISON - In an early-morning action, the Joint Finance Committee of the Wisconsin Legislature voted to adopt a motion that would separate the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism from its collaboration with the students and staff of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Motion 999 reads: "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, prohibit UW employees from doing any work related to the Center for Investigative Journalism as part of their duties as a UW employee."

UW-Madison officials reacted strongly to the budget provision, rejecting its attempt to limit university collaboration and emphasizing the center's value to students and Wisconsin citizens. "Arbitrarily prohibiting UW-Madison employees from doing any work related to the Center for Investigative Journalism is a direct assault on our academic freedom; simply, it is legislative micromanagement and overreach at its worst," says Gary Sandefur, dean of the College of Letters & Science, which oversees the journalism school.

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The Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, founded in 2009, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization supported by private foundations, individuals and news organizations. Though it is housed in two small offices in Vilas Hall, it receives no funding from UW-Madison. However, its innovative collaboration with the journalism school has won national acclaim. And its work has been cited favorably by a legislative committee as recently as last month. The center provides at least five paid internships each year to journalism students. The executive director is required to provide student-centered service each week, teaching topics such as computer-assisted reporting, interviewing techniques and crafting of in-depth news reports.