Partnerships assist Wisconsin Watch increase visible journalism

Studying Time: 2 minutes

Phrases matter in journalism, however so do photos. 

Visible journalism permits folks to see themselves and their neighbors in our work. Sturdy visuals also can elicit emotions and assist people really feel related to communities exterior of their very own, whereas making our work extra digestible and shareable.  

Wisconsin Watch has lengthy valued visuals, as exemplified by the standard photographs and illustrations accompanying our main investigations. However as a small newsroom with a small funds, our visible journalism lengthy trusted one devoted, multitasking employees member, interns and freelancers.

That’s altering as we develop.

Should you intently comply with our latest work, you’ll see Joe Timmerman named in lots of photograph credit. He joined Wisconsin Watch in July as our first full-time employees photojournalist, a place supported and partially funded by Report for America. Joe has already added lots of of miles to the odometer of his van — the aptly named Timmervan — whereas documenting presidential visits and connecting with residents statewide. 

Joe is benefiting from the steerage of former Wisconsin Watch affiliate director Coburn Dukehart, who has greater than 20 years of expertise as a visible journalist and strategist – and who now companions with us in a brand new capability.

Coburn began this yr as managing editor for the CatchLight Native Visible Desk. She is now modifying and guiding Wisconsin Watch’s visible journalism via CatchLight, which companions with native newsrooms throughout the nation to extend their capability to provide partaking visuals.

The nonprofit CatchLight launched its visible desk in 2019 in response to rising visible information deserts and newsroom staffing cuts nationwide, notably amongst visible journalists. It provides newsrooms devoted editorial assist and coaching to combine visual-first practices for increased engagement and viewers constructing. It additionally subsidizes and locations full-time visible journalists in native newsrooms via its fellowship program, which it just lately introduced would open to as much as 20 extra newsrooms, in partnership with RFA. 

We’re thrilled that our partnerships with CatchLight and Report for America have introduced Coburn’s experience again to Wisconsin Watch and allowed us to rent Joe. Count on huge issues from them within the coming months. 

Except for bringing to life our written journalism with vivid photographs, Joe is embarking on self-driven photograph and video essays, taking a visuals-first strategy to sure tales that demand to be instructed in such a means, together with a portrait mission that goals to introduce and join residents statewide.

You would possibly see Joe in your city forward of the November election as he images voters and paperwork their views. Please say whats up, and when you’d prefer to be part of his mission, we’d love to listen to from you.

Wisconsin Watch is a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom. Subscribe to our newsletters for unique tales and our Friday information roundup.