Briefing

The Center for Journalism Ethics is seeking nominations for the Anthony Shadid Award for Journalism Ethics, the Center announced Monday. The deadline for submitting nominations is Jan. 15, 2021.

The Shadid Award, now in its 12th year, recognizes ethical decisions in reporting stories in any medium, including print, broadcast and digital, by journalists working for established news organizations or publishing individually. The award focuses on current journalism and does not include books, documentaries or other long-term projects.

A judge has determined the statewide ballot question on “Marsy’s Law” was improperly worded. However, the law will, for now, remain in effect.

Since Marsy’s Law has taken effect, at least one public records custodian has indicated that he believes Marsy’s Law restricts access to certain information about crime victims contained in public records. However, as WNA attorney James Friedman outlines in a statement from the WNA
, the law includes no reference whatsoever to records and “simply has no impact on the public’s right to access government records in Wisconsin.”

With meetings being held online, government officials are finding it easier to avoid public scrutiny. How are journalists getting around this and other hurdles brought about by the pandemic? What are their legal options?

The Wisconsin Newspaper Association and the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association have assembled a panel of journalists and experts on open government to discuss these issues during a webinar on Nov. 19.

Through a partnership of library and newspaper groups, all past issues of the Daily Jefferson County Union are now available online, the Fort Atkinson newspaper announced last week.

With the completion of the project, readers can now access issues dating from 1870 to 90 days ago through the WNA’s Archive of Wisconsin Newspapers, which is hosted by Badgerlink.

Racine County Eye, an online news organization, is among 10 recipients of investigative reporting grants from the Fund for Local Journalism, the Local Media Foundation announced Wednesday.

Racine County Eye will receive a $5,000 stipend toward its “No Voice” project, which aims to educate the public about the social injustices faced by felons. The project intends to give convicted felons a voice as it defines the problem and compares and contrasts solutions from other states and how they may work in Wisconsin.