AB 1207

This bill creates a Civic Information Consortium Board attached to the University of Wisconsin System consisting of the following members: 1) four representatives of the UW System, each with experience or expertise in journalism, media, technology, or American civic culture, appointed by the president of the UW System; 2) five representatives of Wisconsin local media, appointed by a majority of the members described in item 1, which must include members who work in traditional print media, online or new media, radio, and television and work for nonprofit and for-profit news providers; and 3) two public members, appointed by a majority of the members described in items 1 and 2.

The bill requires the board to form a nonprofit corporation, called the Wisconsin Civic Information Consortium, Inc., for the purpose of administering the grant program described below. The corporation’s members are the board members identified in item 1, above, and the board manages the affairs of the corporation, including selecting a director to manage the day-to-day operation of the corporation. The board also provides funding to the corporation, through a new general fund appropriation to the board.

The bill requires the corporation to award grants to support Wisconsin local journalism and media projects. A grant application must include an explanation of how the proposed project benefits the state’s civic information needs and provides media literacy skills or local journalism access to currently underserved residents of this state. A grant recipient must agree to remain independent, and the corporation must ensure that at least 30 percent of the total amount of all grants awarded are distributed to off-campus partners in rural communities. The corporation must also collect data on populations and communities in this state that are underserved by local news and prioritize directing its funding toward these populations and communities. The board may not take any action or make any funding decision based on the reporting of a grant recipient.

The bill requires the board to annually submit a report to the governor and the legislature detailing how the corporation’s funding was spent and how it advanced the mission of fostering a more informed and engaged public. The report must also include a summary of the collected data on underserved populations or communities.