Category Archives: News

TMJ4 News honored with 2021 Walter Cronkite Award

A months-long investigation into Wisconsin’s broken unemployment system earned TMJ4 News a 2021 Walter Cronkite Award, a national award from the USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center. The award honors journalism that seeks truth, examines inequities, serves the public and demonstrates the indispensability of a free and trustworthy press. “In his time, Walter Cronkite had the… – MORE –

Kiefer retires after 34 years at WLUK-TV

Bill Kiefer is retiring after an inspirational career 34-year career as a broadcast journalist at WLUK-TV in Green Bay. Kiefer is an award-winning producer of newscasts and documentaries.  He also served as a member of the WBA Awards committee.  Since 1995, Kiefer has been the Assistant News Director at WLUK-TV. During his time there he created… – MORE –

Deadline TODAY for Jowett Fellowship for photographers

The deadline for a fellowship for photographers is Tuesday, June 1. The Rick Jowett Fellowship was established in 2017 by the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Foundation to support educational opportunities for photographers and videographers who work in media in Wisconsin. Recipients of the fellowship can use the grant for professional development in the areas of photography… – MORE –

Debate continues over open records, Marcy’s Law

The Wisconsin Department of Justice recently issued guidelines to help clear up confusion over how Marcy’s Law interacts with Wisconsin’s open records law. Now, Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt, is asking the DOJ to go a step further and draw a bright line defining the separation between the state constitutional amendment protecting victims rights and… – MORE –

Young audiences trust local news

Many surveys have shown that local news is considered the most trustworthy, but a new study shows that young audiences share this view as well. NAB is highlighting the study in this recent blog post.

Newsrooms using animation for storytelling

Animation is playing a role in the evolution of storytelling in the digital age. RTDNA is hosting a webinar on June 4 to show newsrooms how these new tools are being used: Learn how you can up your storytelling game by using animation in your news stories and see the research that proves it can… – MORE –

Article explores rethinking of TV news

Local TV remains a trusted source of news, but there are numerous efforts to make sure newscasts remain a vital resource for local viewers. A qualitative study found that local news is alienating some people in their audience, and they’re looking for ways to address it. This article from the Atlantic explains.

Langlois signs off in Eau Claire

After two years at WQOW-TV  in Eau Claire, meteorologist Jess Langlois says she moving to Vermont. Langlois made the announcement over the weekend. She’s taken job at WCAX-TV in Burlington, Vermont.

DOJ offers guidance on interpretation of Marcy’s Law

The Wisconsin Department of Justice released this week guidance regarding access of public records under Marsy’s Law state constitutional amendment protecting the rights of victims. Some law enforcement agencies have cited Marcy’s Law in decisions to withhold information from police reports. The DOJ guidance is aimed at providing clarity on how Wisconsin’s open records laws… – MORE –

More stations produced more local news than ever last year

A pandemic, civil unrest, and cutbacks were not enough to keep local newsrooms from producing more content than ever in 2020. The first installment of this year’s RTDNA/Newhouse School at Syracuse University Survey was released Wednesday. You can read the first batch of takeaways here. RTDNA will release more information about the survey in the… – MORE –