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As we approach the end of this difficult year, you’re in a powerful position. 

You recognize the importance of independent, fact-checked journalism. Your year-end gift to Wisconsin Watch will strengthen our ability to produce The investigative reporting that impacts lives across the state. 

As much as we would like to go into 2021 with the pandemic, disinformation, economic uncertainty and racial inequities behind us, these problems will still exist. And we promise to make sure our reporting on these issues persists, as well. 

To put us in a strong position in the new year, members of our Leadership Circle created a $75,000 fund to encourage our supporters to match their support and help us reach our year-end goal. That group includes Lau and Bea Christensen, who made a $10,000 gift to encourage Wisconsin Watch supporters like you to match that amount by the end of the year. Thank you, Lau and Bea, for your generosity!

Will you join Lau and Bea by giving a donation to Wisconsin Watch today and help us reach our $75,000 goal? We’re less than $15,000 from the summit!

We know that fact-checked, nonpartisan journalism is essential for a democracy to survive as well as thrive. 

Lau and Bea Christensen and the other members of our Watchdog Club and Leadership Circle believe in our guiding principles: Protect the vulnerable. Expose wrongdoing. Explore solutions. And they understand the important role these principles play in our democracy. 

Journalism that is grounded in facts, reporting the truth and providing in-depth coverage to give a whole picture of the problems that are impacting our society today is vital for a thriving democracy. 

Democracy cannot exist without honest journalism. And our investigative reporting cannot be done without your support. 

Help make Wisconsin Watch stronger by reaching our goal of $75,000 and matching Lau and Bea Christensens’s generous donation! Can we count on you to support our vital journalism by giving $120, $180, $240 or whatever you can give today?

Your monthly contributions of $10, $15, $20 or whatever amount is right for you will also help us get to our goal. Can we count on your support?

Any amount that you are able to contribute will directly support local investigative journalism that impacts the lives of everyone in Wisconsin.

The nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism (wisconsinwatch.org) collaborates with Wisconsin Public Radio, PBS Wisconsin, other news media and the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by the Center do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its affiliates.

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Andy Hall, a co-founder of Wisconsin Watch and a former Investigative Reporters and Editors board member, won dozens of awards for his reporting in 26 years at the Wisconsin State Journal and The Arizona Republic. Since the Wisconsin Watch's launch in 2009, he has been responsible for the journalistic and financial operations.

Hall began his career in 1982 as a copyboy at The New York Times. At The Republic, Hall helped break the “Keating Five” scandal involving Sen. John McCain. At the State Journal, Hall’s stories held government and the powerful accountable and protected the vulnerable through coverage that addressed the racial achievement gap in public schools and helped spark the creation of the nationally noted Schools of Hope volunteer tutoring program, revealed NCAA violations by University of Wisconsin athletes, and exposed appalling conditions in neglected neighborhoods such as Allied Drive and Worthington Park. Hall won a first-place award in 2008 for beat reporting from the Education Writers Association. He also has received National Headliner, Gerald Loeb, James K. Batten and Inland Press Association awards for investigative, financial, deadline and civic journalism coverage. Hall has served as a mentor to the staff of La Comunidad, a Spanish-language newspaper in Madison, and has taught numerous courses at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism & Mass Communication. He serves on the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council Board of Directors, Iowa Center for Public Affairs Journalism Board of Directors, and Indiana University Media School’s Journalism Alumni Board, of which he is president. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and, in 2016, received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the IU Media School. He also serves as a member of the Institute for Nonprofit News membership task force to create and uphold high industry standards.