Making News

Jimmy Gutierrez worked as a Milwaukee firefighter before pursuing a career in public radio, but he saw patterns in both professions that spurred him to work for change. Now, through a fellowship at Stanford, he’s exploring new ways to reach communities like the one he grew up in on Milwaukee’s south side.

@JimmyGootz

John S. Knight Fellowship profile

How Management Gets in the Way of Connecting With Community (Medium)

Some days he’s making photos of children playing at the Lake Michigan shoreline; other days he pulls on a gas mask to cover tense protests. Mike DeSisti is a multimedia journalist for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and a licensed drone pilot whose images tell the region’s stories.

@mdesisti

Mike DeSisti’s recent work - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

As a criminal defense attorney, Maayan Silver was good at analyzing evidence and understanding human nature, but she was ready for a change. Now she puts those skills to work as a public radio reporter, focusing most recently on Wisconsin’s key role in the nation’s politics and an array of other stories as a general assignment reporter.

@maayansilver

Maayan Silver’s recent work - WUWM

For 23 years, WISN Chief Photojournalist Jason Hunter has covered news and sports in southeast Wisconsin. Working with or without a reporter, Hunter is a storyteller in the field, weaving together video and sound to take viewers there. He combines observation and interview skills to highlight the humanity in his stories.

@JHunts71

After covering a range of beats for newspapers in southeast Wisconsin, Corrinne Hess started a new career in public radio. She grew up in Racine and worked her way through college, always aiming to be a journalist. Now, as president of the Milwaukee Press Club, she encourages students to connect with the club to meet reporters eager to help out young journalists.

@CorriHess

Corrinne Hess’ recent work - Wisconsin Public Radio

Right out of college, Talis Shelbourne landed a job at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Her title is “investigative solutions reporter,” covering how the city works — and doesn’t — for its least powerful citizens. She’s a UW-Milwaukee graduate who hopes to encourage middle and high school students to consider careers in journalism.

@talisseer

Talis Shelbourne’s recent work - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

“From the highest-ranking politician in the land to the county supervisor,” elected officials criticize journalists to deflect from the news, says AP Madison correspondent Scott Bauer. He’s covered Wisconsin politics for 15 years, developing diverse sources and attracting more than 26,000 Twitter followers.

@sbauerAP

AP Wisconsin - recent stories

As a college student at UW-Milwaukee, Tony Atkins commuted to school and worked hard to prove a kid from low-income housing could make it as a journalist. Now he’s a reporter for WTMJ-TV, producing stories in the city he knows so well. He also worked as a television reporter in Memphis and as a digital reporter in Pittsburgh and Austin, Texas.

@TonyAtkinsTV

Tony Atkins stories.

Mary Spicuzza is an investigative reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel covering the pandemic, social unrest and politics in Wisconsin. A near-death experience inspired her to pursue a career in journalism. Reporting in her home state, she follows tips and writes in-depth stories, brushing off online attacks and focusing on the importance of local news. Spicuzza lives with her husband and daughter in the Shorewood home that’s been in her family for more than 100 years.

@MSpicuzzaMJS

Mary Spicuzza’s recent work - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel