WisconsinUW would pay journalism fellows to work with local newsrooms
The UW System would match 25 eligible graduates with local newsrooms each year for one-year fellowships that pay $40,000 apiece.
What it does
The UW System would match 25 fellows with local newsrooms each year. Each one-year fellowship would pay $40,000 from a UW System appropriation account.
Argument forMatching graduates with local newsrooms could help communities get more local reporting and information about civic life.
Argument againstThe degree rule could keep skilled local reporters without a qualifying college degree from applying for a fellowship.
More detail
The UW System Board would create a program to match fellows with local newsrooms. Fellows must have completed a two-year or four-year degree in journalism, media, communications, or a similar program at a higher education institution. Local newsrooms may also apply. Applicants must show how taking part could improve access to quality local journalism, strengthen media literacy, meet residents’ civic information needs, or do a combination of these. The program would be funded from a UW System appropriation account. Each fellowship would last one year. The bill would add 25 UW System positions for fellows on July 1, 2026, funded from the same account.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 24Fiscal estimate receivedLatest
- Mar 23Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1Major
- Mar 19Read first time and referred to Committee on Universities and Technical CollegesMinor
- Mar 19Introduced by Senators Spreitzer, Pfaff, Carpenter, Ratcliff and Roys; cosponsored by Representatives Brown, Emerson, Johnson, Anderson, Clancy, McCarville, Palmeri, Sinicki, Udell, Stubbs and PradoIntroduced
EducationEconomy & Jobs