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We are Wisconsin Watch. Here’s why you can trust us:

Wisconsin Watch is a nonpartisan, nonprofit investigative news outlet. We increase the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Our work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.

We currently have reporters based in Madison, Milwaukee, and Oshkosh, and have other members of our robust editorial and business teams located across the state. We collaborate and share our content with mainstream and niche media across Wisconsin and the nation.

We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization operated by a professional staff under the guidance of a nationally noted board of directors. Our legal name is Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism (WCIJ Inc.).

Wisconsin Watch is a founding member of the Institute for Nonprofit News, a group of nonprofit journalism organizations that conduct investigative reporting in the public interest.

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Wisconsin Watch is a member of the Trust Project, a global network of news organizations that has developed transparency standards to help news readers assess the quality and credibility of journalism. Learn more about how we incorporate the Trust Indicators on our site.

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Wisconsin Watch is a member of The Global Investigative Journalism Network, an international network of nonprofit organizations founded to support, promote and produce investigative journalism.

Wisconsin Watch is a member of the International Fact-Checking Network, a network that brings together a growing community of fact-checkers around the world and advocates of factual information in the global fight against misinformation.

Our mission:

To increase the quality, quantity and understanding of investigative journalism to foster an informed citizenry and strengthen democracy.

Our values:

Wisconsin Watch values truth and pursues it through accurate, fair, independent, rigorous and nonpartisan reporting. We also value transparency, collaboration, innovation and a spirit of public service. These values guide Wisconsin Watch’s training of journalists and its investigations, which seek to protect the interests of people in vulnerable circumstances, expose wrongdoing and deficiencies in systems, and explore solutions to problems.

Our guiding principles:

Protect the vulnerable. Expose wrongdoing. Explore solutions.

Standards and practices

Republishing guidelines
Ethics
Corrections and clarifications
Guidelines on use of unnamed sources
User agreement and privacy policy

Our people

Staff
Board of Directors
Journalism Advisory Board

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

DEI at Wisconsin Watch
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Report, 2022
Staff demographics
Our anti-racism stand and a pledge of action

Funding

Make a gift
Watchdog Club and Leadership Circle
Join the Legacy Society
How we are funded
Tax returns and financial statements
Fundraising policy

Impact

Awards and honors
Annual Reports
Partners and collaborators
Impact: How our stories make a difference
The Trust Project

Work with us

Current job openings
Send us a tip
Be your own watchdog
Open government resources
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