We the People/Wisconsin is a multi-media partnership that aims to reconnect citizens with public life through town hall meetings, candidate and issue forums and citizen-based reporting.

The non-profit coalition includes the Wisconsin State Journal, Wisconsin Public Television, Wisconsin Public Radio, WISC-TV (CBS, Madison), WisPolitics.com and Wood Communications Group.

We the People/Wisconsin produces timely forums so that citizens can question political candidates, public officials - and themselves. It does not advocate for any candidate, political party or movement. It advocates for readers, viewers and listeners by serving as a channel for conversations between citizens and public officials throughout Wisconsin.

Why does We the People/Wisconsin exist?
Many citizens feel issues they care about and questions they need answered are not addressed by politicians. Many of those same citizens also feel the media does not cover these issues or questions - and even enable politicians to avoid them. We the People's goal is to ensure citizens' concerns are discussed fully and their questions answered, by devising forums in which these concerns are addressed by both politicians and the media.

How does We the People/Wisconsin do this?
Since 1992, We the People has enlisted partners from all segments of the media: print, radio, television and online. With the help of these dedicated partners, We the People holds focus groups, conducts polls, and does interviews with citizens to see what issues and questions they believe should be discussed, and then establishes forums, such as debates between political candidates to ensure these issues and questions receive attention from politicians and the media.

We the People/Wisconsin was launched on March 28, 1992, when more than 300 citizens gathered at three town hall meetings in Wisconsin and Minnesota to discuss issues and pose questions to Democratic presidential contenders Bill Clinton and Jerry Brown. Since then, We the People/Wisconsin has sponsored more than 30 live, televised forums, four statewide conferences and more than four dozen town hall meetings across the state.

Of these forums, half have focused on statewide elections, including governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Supreme Court and state Superintendent of Schools. The others have been devoted to issues such as the federal budget deficit, state spending and taxes, health care reform, youth concerns, the future of the University of Wisconsin, teen violence, land use and energy.

As Wisconsin celebrated its sesquicentennial in 1998, We the People/Wisconsin embarked on a 12-month project that looked at how the first 150 years had been shaped - and what issues needed to guide its future. In four separate programs that began in the fall of 1997, We the People/Wisconsin focused on the family, race and culture, land use and jobs and the economy. Those programs led to a "Citizens' Charter" that was discussed in fall election forums for U.S. Senate and governor.

From 1999 to 2000, We the People/Wisconsin focused its efforts on health in a year-long series called "Growing Up ....Growing Older." Three public conferences, several statewide broadcasts and multi-media coverage blanketed the state with societal, ethical and political issues that affect children, individuals and the elderly. The project culminated in a state-wide discussion with experts and candidates on these important healthcare issues.

In 2001, We the People/Wisconsin focused on the race for State Superintendent and one of the state's most critical issues - the future of energy.

In 2002 and 2004, We the People/Wisconsin took candidates for Governor and U.S. Senate "on the road" to meet with citizens across the state.

Since its inception in 1992, We the People/Wisconsin has been honored with two Midwest Emmys from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the top public service awards from the Wisconsin Newspaper Association and the Milwaukee Press Club. The organization also received special recognition in the first annual James K. Batten Award for "fostering public deliberation on issues important to the people of the state." It has also been cited by local and national organizations such as Capital Community Citizens, Madison Magazine and the National Telemedia Council. Most recently, it has served as a model for civic journalism projects across the globe.

President
Tom Bier, station manager, WISC-TV

Vice Presidents
Kathy Bissen, Interim Director of Production, Wisconsin Public Television
Joy Cardin, Ideas Network director and talk show host, Wisconsin Public Radio

Secretary
Tim Kelley, managing editor, Wisconsin State Journal

Treasurer
Jim Wood, president, Wood Communications Group

Additional Directors
Neil Heinen, editorial director, WISC-TV and Madison Magazine
Jeff Mayers, president, WisPolitics.com
Thomas W. Still, co-founder

We The People/Wisconsin, Inc.
c/o Wisconsin State Journal
1901 Fish Hatchery Road
Madison, WI 53713

Deborah Jackson Still, project manager
dstill@wtpeople.com
608.232.2125 phone