December 4, 2013

Dear Reader,

It’s the season of giving, so …

We’ve decided to share some of our secrets.

Our new “Be Your Own Watchdog” feature, launched this week, offers tips on how to hold powerful people and institutions accountable for their actions.

Bill Lueders, director of our Money and Politics Project and the elected president of the nonprofit Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, draws on his three decades of experience in watchdog journalism in producing the first installment.

You’ll find concise tips on how to dig into campaign finance and lobbying, state legislation and organizations such as corporations, unions and nonprofits.

We also offer links to information about open government, including how to file public records requests — a basic tool of investigative journalists and engaged citizens alike.

Why are we doing this?

Because we believe that an engaged citizenry is critical to a healthy democracy.

Because we realize that the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism and its journalistic counterparts across the state lack the resources to investigate everything that should be examined.

Because we believe that huge numbers of Wisconsinites care passionately about government integrity and quality of life issues, just like we do, and they’ll join us in keeping an eye on power.

We ask just two favors:

• Let us know what you uncover. It may help us in our efforts to bring more secrets out into the light.

• Consider a recurring or one-time gift to the Center, to sustain its missions of increasing the quality and quantity of investigative journalism in Wisconsin while training current and future generations of investigative journalists.

Together, we can make sure that the public, and policymakers, have access to reliable, nonpartisan information — the kind that puts all of us in a position to make the best possible decisions for our state and communities.

Warmly,

Andy Hall
Executive Director
ahall@wisconsinwatch.org
608-262-3642