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Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service (NNS) is looking for a reporter to investigate and report on health disparities and issues affecting Milwaukee, particularly those impacting communities of color.

Description

If you care passionately about informing readers about health-related topics and giving Milwaukee residents the information they need to navigate complicated systems, then the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service wants to hear from you.

We seek a reporter who can dig into issues such as the city’s ongoing lead crisis; infant mortality; the lingering effects of COVID; and how residents can live healthier lives. We want someone who can aggressively and masterfully cover the Milwaukee Health Department and other governmental entities while shining a light –  and solutions –  on health disparities that plague our communities of color in Milwaukee.

You will also be a key contributor to News 414, a reader-engagement initiative that delivers resources to community residents via texts and other forms of outreach.

Because we serve Black and Brown communities that have been misrepresented, ignored or only get media attention when there is crime and conflict, NNS has a three-pronged editorial agenda. We celebrate the resilience of residents by consistently and unapologetically spotlighting the good works of our community leaders and organizations. We educate our readers by connecting them to resources that can help uncomplicate their busy lives. And we illuminate through good shoe-leather watchdog reporting issues that create much-needed dialogue while holding institutions and leaders accountable.

This job requires curiosity, creativity and tenacity. We seek reporters who have initiative, resolve and the willingness to dig deep while simultaneously centering the voices of communities of color into their stories. We are not looking for stenographers who summarize meetings or rewrite news releases. Instead, we seek journalists who can connect the dots and deliver insightful stories that leave our readers better informed.

What you can expect from us

The Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service (NNS) is an ambitious nonprofit newsroom that serves the city’s Black and Latinx communities. Our readers are our neighbors, and filling their information needs is our top priority.

We are a division of Wisconsin Watch, a statewide nonprofit that focuses on high-quality, impactful journalism, and have offices in Marquette University’s Diederich College of Communication.

We value collaboration, communication and creativity. And we hire people for who they are … and for what they can become. We want everyone to win.

What makes an outstanding candidate

You’re a good fit if:

• You have a demonstrated commitment to the use of investigative journalism and you live to develop and execute sustained, powerful stories that spur reform.
• You are organized and can handle multiple projects under tight deadlines.
• You have a collaborative spirit and want to work with a team to give central city Milwaukee residents the journalism they want, need and deserve. You believe that we are all stronger together.
• You believe that legacy models for local media’s business and journalism are broken and that new approaches are needed to serve the public and our democracy.
• You have sharp news judgment and a strong record of detailed reporting and powerful storytelling.
• You are obsessed with accuracy and transparency.
• You have adept interviewing skills: This reporter will need to talk to high-level officials and neighborhood residents.
• You have some proficiency – or at least interest – in working with data and public records.
• You have strong people skills and an affinity for working with others.
• You believe in our North Star: to give Milwaukee residents the newsroom they deserve.
• Audio or video reporting skills are a plus.

Responsibilities:

The reporter will: 

• Work with the managing editor to strategize, frame, report and write news and feature stories. 
• Develop sources in the medical community and engage members of the public in identifying the information gaps that need to be filled. 
• Write two to three stories a week and contribute to community engagement efforts.

Location: The reporter will be based in Milwaukee. Some evening and weekend work is necessary. We have a hybrid workplace and expect you to be more in the community than in our office.

We know no one is perfect

We expect great things. But we know no one can have all the skills listed above. So apply anyway.

We encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including women, people of color, LGBTQ people, veterans and people with disabilities. We believe that a newsroom that includes a broad range of life experiences will ultimately produce better journalism.

What we want to see from you

• A cover letter telling us why you seek the position and why you are the right person for our team.
• A resume.
• Links or PDF files of at least three examples of your best work.
  • (Send to rsmith@milwaukeenns.org; please put “Health Reporter Application Materials” in the e-mail subject line.)

You can reach out to Executive Director Ron Smith and discuss this position. He can be reached at rsmith@milwaukeenns.org. Please put “Health Reporter” in the e-mail subject line.

Salary

$40,000 – $45,000 per year

Click here to apply.

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service seeks health reporter is a post from Wisconsin Watch, a non-profit investigative news site covering Wisconsin since 2009. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

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The associate director of philanthropy will perform administrative duties related to fundraising, marketing and public relations, gaining firsthand experience in strategic planning to increase the capacity of a growing nonprofit organization. This role will grow with the right candidate and serve as the catalyst for a successful career in nonprofit fundraising and relationship management.

Wisconsin Watch, a nonprofit news organization dedicated to making sure Wisconsin residents have the news and information they need, seeks a philanthropy associate to help us achieve our ambitious fundraising and expansion goals. The associate director of philanthropy will report to the director of philanthropy and work closely with the chief revenue officer. The right candidate will be highly organized, detail-oriented and entrepreneurial, with strong communication, project management, and task management skills.

Wisconsin Watch is a nonprofit news company providing trustworthy reporting that investigates problems, explores solutions and serves the public. We aim to strengthen the quality of community life and self-government in Wisconsin by providing people with the knowledge they need to navigate their lives, drive forward solutions and hold those with power accountable. We pursue the truth through accurate, fair, independent, rigorous, nonpartisan reporting. 

Job duties:

The associate director of philanthropy will perform administrative duties related to fundraising, marketing and public relations, gaining firsthand experience in strategic planning to increase the capacity of a growing nonprofit organization. This role will grow with the right candidate and serve as the catalyst for a successful career in nonprofit fundraising and relationship management.

The associate director of philanthropy will be involved with stewardship activities related to nonprofit fundraising and relationship management, including working with a team to create and implement the fundraising, development and communications strategy for Wisconsin Watch, as well as donor and grant research and tracking. 

The associate director of philanthropy will work closely with the development and business team to plan, implement and coordinate effective multi-year strategies and plans for gift prospects, including individual donors and foundations. 

Major donors

• Serve as a representative of Wisconsin Watch and a point of contact for staff and donor inquiries.
• Uphold excellent stewardship practices and regularly help craft funder outreach and updates.
• Partner with the director of philanthropy to conduct prospect research.
• Potentially manage a small portfolio of major donors.

Institutional donors

• Collaborate with the director of philanthropy to manage a robust calendar of institutional funder grants and reporting deadlines.
• Uphold excellent stewardship practices and regularly help craft funder outreach and updates.
• Assist with financial budgeting and reporting processes.

Systems management

• Responsibilities include running weekly gift reports, requesting development notes, merging letters, customizing copy, and routing letters for approvals and signatures.
• Draft acknowledgment letter templates and refresh/update content on a bi-annual basis.
• Administer the Watchdog Club and Leadership Circle acknowledgment process.
• Send out monthly recurring gift initiation thank you cards and pledge reminders.
• Partner with the business team on database policies and best practices in record keeping.

Required qualifications:

• 2+ years’ experience in nonprofit fundraising, stewardship, donor relations, project management and/or a related area.
• Proficient in Google Suite, MS Office, Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Other desirable qualifications:

• Passion for journalism, local news, media, and/or civic engagement.
• Excellent organizational, critical thinking and project management skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Skilled at proactively solving problems and offering solutions.             
• Strong customer service mentality.
• Self-starter, able to successfully coordinate multifaceted projects, timelines, competing priorities, and duties both independently and in collaboration with other people involved.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills with both internal and external constituents.
• Ability to work effectively in a decentralized environment with high complexity.
• Experience with writing communications for donor gratitude.
• Experience using Salesforce or other CRM software.
• Experience with donor prospect research.

Don’t check off every box in the requirements listed above? Please apply anyway! Studies have shown that marginalized communities, such as women, LGBTQ+ and people of color, are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. Wisconsin Watch is dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible workplace that fosters a sense of belonging – so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to still consider submitting an application. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings!

Location: The associate director of philanthropy should be located in Wisconsin, preferably in the greater Madison or greater Milwaukee areas.

Salary and benefits: The base salary for this position is $60,000. Final offer amounts will carefully consider multiple factors, including prior experience, expertise and location, and may vary from the amount above. Wisconsin Watch offers competitive salaries and benefits, including generous vacation (five weeks), a retirement fund contribution, paid sick days, paid family and caregiver leave, subsidized medical and dental premiums, vision coverage, and more.

Deadline: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. For best consideration, apply by Sept. 6, 2024.

To apply: Please submit a PDF of your resume and answer some brief questions in this application form. If you’d like to chat about the job before applying, contact Anna January, director of philanthropy: ajanuary@wisconsinwatch.org

Wisconsin Watch is dedicated to improving our newsroom by better reflecting the people we cover. We are committed to diversity and building an inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds and ages. We especially encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including women, people of color, LGBTQ+ people, and people with disabilities. We are an equal-opportunity employer and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, or any other status protected under applicable law.

Salary

$60,000 – $70,000 per year

Click here to apply.

Wisconsin Watch seeks associate director of philanthropy is a post from Wisconsin Watch, a non-profit investigative news site covering Wisconsin since 2009. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

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Wisconsin Watch is a nonprofit and nonpartisan newsroom. Subscribe to our newsletter to get our investigative stories and Friday news roundup. This story is published in partnership with The Associated Press.

Wisconsin voters on Tuesday rejected Republican-authored ballot questions that would have limited the governor’s power to spend federal money that comes to the state for disaster relief or any other crisis, unless it’s already earmarked.

The constitutional amendments were placed on the ballot by the GOP-controlled Legislature.

Wisconsin voters also set the field in a closely watched Senate contest Tuesday, with Republican businessman Eric Hovde, who was endorsed by Donald Trump, easily winning Wisconsin’s Republican primary.

But two of Trump’s biggest backers in the Legislature, including one endorsed by the former president, lost in primaries to more moderate Republicans.

State Rep. Janel Brandtjen, who Trump endorsed, lost in a primary to current state Sen. Dan Knodl, a race between two Republican incumbents created under newly drawn legislative districts. And former state Rep. Tim Ramthun lost to state Sen. Dan Feyen.

Both Brandtjen and Ramthun had pushed to decertify President Joe Biden’s 2020 victory.

The power of Trump’s endorsement was being tested in a Republican congressional primary in northern Wisconsin, and Democrats were also deciding on a candidate in a swing House district to take on a GOP incumbent.

Rejection of the ballot measures was a huge win for liberals.

Democrats, including Gov. Tony Evers, and a host of liberal groups and others organized against the amendments. They had argued adopting them would slow down the distribution of money when it needs to be spent quickly.

“This was a referendum on our administration’s work and the future for Wisconsin we’ve been working hard to build together, and the answer is reflected in the people’s vote tonight,” Evers said in a statement.

Republican backers argued the measures would have added more oversight and serve as a check on the governor’s powers.

Republicans pushed the amendments after taking issue with Evers having the power to distribute billions of dollars in COVID-19 federal relief money without legislative approval.

In the Senate race, Hovde faced only nominal opposition and has been running as the presumptive nominee for months. He’s already spent at least $13 million of his own money on the race to knock off Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who ran unopposed in her party’s primary as she seeks a third term.

The race is a key target for both sides as Democrats try to hold onto their majority in the Senate.

Baldwin has attacked Hovde as an out-of-touch California bank owner, while Hovde argues Baldwin is too liberal for Wisconsin. Hovde previously ran for the Senate in 2012 but lost in the primary.

In northeastern Wisconsin’s open 8th Congressional District, three Republicans vied for a chance to succeed Rep. Mike Gallagher, a sometimes Trump critic, who quit in April.

Former gas station chain owner Tony Wied, running his first race, touts his endorsement by Trump. The former president cut a TV ad for Wied. He was in a tight race with Roger Roth, the former president of the state Senate who is backed by former Gov. Scott Walker.

State Sen. Andre Jacque, who argues he is the “proven conservative fighter,” was trailing based on early returns.

Dr. Kristin Lyerly, an obstetrician who sued to overturn Wisconsin’s abortion ban, is the only Democrat running.

Western Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District, which had been represented by a Democrat for 26 years before it flipped in 2022, is the most competitive district in the state, resulting in a crowded Democratic primary for the chance to take on incumbent Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden.

Van Orden is a former Navy SEAL who was at the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and remains one of Trump’s loudest backers in Wisconsin. He is a top target for Democrats.

Longtime state Rep. Katrina Shankland was in a tight race with former small-business owner and former political activist Rebecca Cooke. Political newcomer Eric Wilson was trailing based on early returns in the Democratic primary.

The election was also the first under new legislative maps more favorable to Democrats.

Legislative incumbents faced each other in six primaries, including four Assembly races where the new maps pitted them against each other.

The winners in Tuesday primaries will face off in November, when all 99 seats in the Assembly and half in the Senate are on the ballot.

Wisconsin voters reject ballot questions that would limit governor’s power to spend federal money is a post from Wisconsin Watch, a non-profit investigative news site covering Wisconsin since 2009. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.