A celebration of open government and investigative reporting

Presented by the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council and the Madison Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. With assistance from the Wisconsin Newspaper Association, Wisconsin Broadcasters Association and the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Gilman Halsted, a retired Wisconsin Public Radio reporter who produced award-winning examinations of the state's criminal justice system, has been named the 2017 recipient of the Distinguished Wisconsin Watchdog Award.

The Wisconsin Newspaper Association is the spotlight sponsor of the Wisconsin Watchdog Awards. Additional sponsors include Schott, Bublitz & Engel, s.c., Wisconsin Broadcasters Association, Betty and Corkey Custer, the John K. MacIver Institute for Public Policy, Pines Bach LLP, Wisconsin State Journal, The Cap Times, Summit Credit Union, WORT 89.9 FM, Simpson Street Free Press and Madison365.

Highlights include:

— The annual Opee Awards, presented by the FOIC.

— The Madison SPJ chapter will review the year in journalism.

— Presentation of the Distinguished Wisconsin Watchdog Award.

— Reception (cash bar) at 5 p.m.

— Dinner (cash bar) at 6 p.m.

Just 120 tickets will be sold.

Discounts are available for purchases of tables. Contact ahall@wisconsinwatch.org for more information.

Click here if you're interested in becoming a sponsor of the event.

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Watchdog 101 Workshop: Investigative Reporting Basics

High school and college journalists and young professional journalists are invited to a special investigative reporting workshop being offered March 30 as part of this year’s Wisconsin Watchdog Awards event.

“Watchdog 101 Workshop: Investigative Reporting Basics,” a free, fast-paced workshop, will be led by staff members of the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism — Dee J. Hall, Andy Hall and Coburn Dukehart. Presenters also will include Martin Kaiser, former editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel who now serves as a journalism consultant; Alexandra Hall, a Wisconsin Public Radio investigative reporting fellow; attorney Robert Dreps, an expert in open records; and Jacob Kushner, an award-winning international journalist and former WCIJ intern.

The workshop will include sessions on how to find strong investigative stories, how to use the state’s open records law, the art of the interview, how to use multimedia in investigative journalism, and inside looks at award-winning investigative stories.

The workshop will be held from 2 to 4:45 p.m. on Thursday, March 30, immediately before the Wisconsin Watchdog Awards reception and dinner.

Admission to Watchdog 101 is free. Refreshments will be provided.

Free tickets (regular price $60) for a limited number of students and young journalists will be provided to the Wisconsin Watchdog Awards reception. Contact Andy Hall at ahall@wisconsinwatch.org for more information.