Editor's note: This week's newsletter is from WisContext managing editor Kristian Knutsen.
Hello,
When you think about Wisconsin and alcohol, what comes to mind? The state certainly has an outsized reputation when it comes to drinking, both among its residents and far beyond its borders, an identity that is lauded as a cultural marker and deemed notorious for its destructive effects. In short, Wisconsin's relationship with alcohol is complicated.
Over the past two weeks, Wisconsin Public Radio has rolled out a series of special coverage about alcohol in Wisconsin, about this complex relationship, about something that surrounds many of us on a daily basis. Titled "High Tolerance," the series presents more than 20 stories about the culture, business and costs of alcohol around the state. As a major editorial initiative by WPR, WisContext made it a priority to collaborate on this series, and we published several stories this week about alcohol-related issues.
But why cover alcohol in the first place? And how do you tackle an issue with such disparate aspects, some of which people love but others are the source of deep pain? To get a better handle on this, I spoke with WPR news director Noah Ovshinsky. Here's what he had to say.
Kristian: Why did alcohol and the many issues surrounding it stand out as a subject for WPR to explore this year?
Noah: As journalists, we are always on the lookout for outliers. And when it comes to alcohol, Wisconsin is definitely an outlier. The list is long, but among other things, Wisconsin is the only state that doesn't criminalize first-time drunken driving. That is a fascinating story. And there are many others like it.
It's easy to forget what role alcohol plays in our culture but ask an out-of-towner, and they might just point out how different things are here. With this project, we wanted to be that mirror.
How did WPR juggle the broad scope of alcohol as an issue, particularly the difference between the very serious health and legal issues connected with its use and the more positive economic development and cultural components related to the state's identity?
That was the subject of a lot of discussion. We tried really hard to walk that line. It is not black or white. Alcohol does come with a significant cost.
Many of our stories dealt with the heartbreaking aspect of this relationship. But alcohol is also at the center of many celebrations and a source of professional pride for those in the industry. We wanted to tell that story too.
How did WPR come up with the specific name of the series – High Tolerance – given this balancing act?
Again, there was a lot of back and forth about what kind of tone we wanted the title to have. We didn't want it to be an indictment or elevate it too much. Most importantly, we wanted the title to capture a truth that could also serve as shorthand for the series. I think High Tolerance does that.
What do you hope audiences will take away from this series?
At the end of the day, I hope this project is an opportunity for our audience to pause and actively think about this complicated relationship. In doing so, maybe it will challenge a long held belief or possibly confirm it. At minimum, it puts a human face on this issue. And to truly understand something, that is the voice we most need to hear.
Where do you think WPR's coverage of alcohol will be going forward?
During the course of the project, we asked people to tell us what stories we we're missing. I expect WPR will be following up on a few of those.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I’d strongly encourage people to visit wpr.org/hightolerance to read and hear the whole series. No one story truly captures the spirit of this project.
WisContext contributed four stories to High Tolerance, with each intended to help broaden the scope of the series. Two were reported by associate editor Will Cushman. One is an investigative report on OWI enforcement patterns in Wisconsin, and the other is a translational piece that features a Wisconsin Public Television University Place episode about alcohol and brain chemistry. The other two were contributed by our partners at University of Wisconsin schools. One is an analysis by the UW Applied Population Lab of the demographics of excessive drinking across the state, and the other is a story by a UW-Eau Claire geographer that looks back at the vanishing rural tavern.
Here are all four stories.
OWIs In Wisconsin Are Dropping, But There Are Still Tens Of Thousands Each Year
How are buzzed, drunk and high drivers held accountable for their actions in Wisconsin?
Where Are Binge And Heavy Drinking Most Common Around Wisconsin?
Wisconsin's alcohol use is among the highest in the nation, particularly for binge drinking, but levels of drinking are not uniform across the state.
The Bygone Era Of Marshfield's Rural Taverns
In the 1960s and 1970s, several dozen rural taverns were located within a 7-mile radius from the center of the city of Marshfield. But by the end of the 20th century, more than three-fourths had closed their doors.
Alcohol's Enduring Appeal Is A Matter Of Brain Chemistry And Genetics
Wisconsin's affinity for alcohol — and the drug's complicated cultural impact on the state — can in many ways be explained by a few straightforward biochemical processes.
Wisconsin Public Radio's High Tolerance series offers many more stories that cover the many roles alcohol plays in the state.
Some of these reports examine its economic structures and cultural impacts, including the complex structure of the three-tier distribution system, the camaraderie of bartenders, the emergence of wine tourism, the growing ranks of women brewers, and the art that goes into manufacturing tap handles.
Other reports explore the damages wrought by alcohol abuse, including the temptations of teenage drinking, the paucity of addiction treatment options in rural areas, the effects that parental drinking habits can have on the foster care system, the embrace of OWI courts, and the tremendous costs this culture has in terms of health care, criminal justice and lost productivity. All are worth your attention and they can be found here.
Along with WPR, WisContext hopes to conduct more reporting going forward on alcohol related issues. If you have any specific ideas, either following up on our previous coverage or something entirely different, please send a reply!
Have a good weekend,
Kristian Knutsen
Managing editor, WisContext
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As always, if you have questions about this email or an idea you’d like to see put into action, I want to hear from you. Send me a message at hayley.sperling@wiscontext.org, or find me @hksperl on Twitter.
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