After reporting and editing in Watertown, the Fox Cities, Superior and Minnesota, the veteran journalist returns to her native Door County to lead Wisconsin Watch’s regional coverage.
Author Archives: Jen Zettel-Vandenhouten / Wisconsin Watch
Jen Zettel-Vandenhouten joined Wisconsin Watch in August 2025 as regional editor for northeastern Wisconsin. She previously served as managing editor for Project Optimist, a nonprofit news organization focused on greater Minnesota. Jen’s past employers include the Duluth News Tribune, The Post-Crescent (Appleton, Wis.), USA TODAY Network-Wisconsin, and the Watertown Daily Times (Watertown, Wis.). Her teams have been honored with awards from the Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists and the Minnesota and Wisconsin newspaper associations. Jen holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and English from the University of Wisconsin. She is also an accredited trainer through the Solutions Journalism Network. (Photo by Erica Dischino for Project Optimist)