May 23, 2012
Hi Reader,
Keeping an eye on the people in power -- whether they slant to the right or the left -- is critical to our democracy. That's why three years ago, when the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism published its first project, it collaborated with a UW-Madison journalism class and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel to scrutinize the travel records of Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle.
And it's why, over the past week, the Center, in collaboration with the La Crosse Tribune, published a three-part analysis of Republican Gov. Scott Walker's calendars.
The project provides the public with insights regarding Walker's activities during his first 13 months in office, including:
-
A dramatic decline in his official work time, as he crisscrossed the nation to raise record millions for his recall campaign.
-
Granting more interview time to the national, conservative-leaning Fox News cable channel than any other media outlet.
-
Visiting at least two-thirds of Wisconsin’s counties and 12 other states, but bypassing much of the northern third of Wisconsin.
-
Receiving contributions from employees or political action committees at more than half of the 130-plus companies that appear in his official calendars.
The project has been picked up by at least half a dozen news organizations in Wisconsin, plus the Center for Public Integrity and Huffington Post, and has generated more than 2,000 comments from readers.
We hope you find the stories, and the stunning interactive graphics produced by Kate Golden and Amy Karon, provide you with information you value during these politically charged times in Wisconsin.
Kindest regards,
 Andy Hall
Executive Director
ahall@wisconsinwatch.org
608-262-3642
P.S. To see all of the elements of our coverage of Walker's calendars, check out the links below.
|
|
|
Part one: Walker’s official work time declines as national fame grows
Last year, Gov. Scott Walker crisscrossed the nation, breaking fundraising records and netting about half his donations from out of state. But his calendars show the consequences of fame and fundraising. The first in a three-part series.
|
Part three: Open to business
You don’t have to be a campaign donor or corporate executive to get an audience with Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. But it doesn’t hurt. The third installment in a three-part series.
|
|
Part two: ‘I want the choir to sing’
Walker’s official calendars from his first 13 months in office chronicle these and scores more hours he spent building credentials with conservatives in Wisconsin and across the nation. The second installment in a three-part series.
|
Interactive graphics
Through the state’s open records law, the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism received Gov. Scott Walker’s official calendars. Center reporters then created a database of all 4,414 entries. Explore every entry and the incredible graphics created by Center reporter Kate Golden here.
|
|
|
|
