The first election issues story reported and produced by the Northeast Wisconsin News Lab (NEW News Lab for short) was published Wednesday.
The consortium of newsrooms includes the Post-Crescent in Appleton, the Green Bay Press Gazette, the Green Bay Press Times, Wisconsin Public Radio and yours truly — Wisconsin Watch.
The collaborative effort formed in 2021 to advance in-depth local reporting on important topics. Previous seasons of the NEW News Lab focused on racism as a public health crisis, lack of affordable housing, local school funding and coverage of local judicial systems.
This time around, leaders from the partner newsrooms used feedback from the Local News Landscape Study conducted by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay to decide which issues to cover.
Reporters from the Post-Crescent and Press Gazette will focus on public safety and education.
The Green Bay Press Times called dibs on the environment.
WPR will tackle the economy.
And here at Wisconsin Watch, we’re reporting on health care.
Some states started Medicaid work requirements early. What can Wisconsin learn?
How the process is going for officials in Nebraska and Montana could provide key lessons for states facing a Jan. 1 deadline, including Wisconsin.
One thing I appreciate about the NEW News Lab is the collaboration. Working with fellow journalists toward a common goal is part of why I love this work.
We hope this coverage helps you make informed decisions when you head to the voting booth in November.
And if there’s an issue the NEW News Lab is not focusing on that matters to you, reach out to Wisconsin Watch’s statehouse team. They’re covering a different set of issues ahead of the election.
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