Journalist Resources

Legal Resources

WNA Legal Hotline – (608) 284-4000

Editors and reporters are encouraged to call this toll-free WNA phone number and ask an attorney for immediate help when they are denied access to government meetings or records, have concerns about a story that could involve libel or privacy questions, or face similar challenges to Freedom of Information (FOI) principles.

Wisconsin News Reporters’ Legal Handbook

For more than 40 years, the State Bar of Wisconsin News Reporters’ Legal Handbook has served as a reference for new journalists and experienced reporters covering Wisconsin courts. It covers the basics of working in a courtroom, offers judges’ considerations for working with the media, and highlights judicial proceedings, considerations, definitions, and terms.

The handbook also covers some of the top legal issues facing reporters, including Wisconsin’s Shield Law, defamation, public records requests and the Open Meetings Law.

Election Legal Guide

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Election Legal Guide provides an overview of legal issues that journalists may face while reporting on the 2022 midterm elections.

The first four sections of this guide offer a general summary of information about exit polling, newsgathering in or near polling places, ballot selfies, and access to ballots and election records. The subsequent sections provide more specific information on each of the following battleground states: Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Reporter’s Privilege

Journalists in Wisconsin have a qualified privilege against testifying in both civil and criminal proceedings. This court-recognized privilege, based on both the state and federal constitutions, applies regardless of whether the journalist obtained the information from a confidential or non-confidential source.

Privacy Laws in Wisconsin

WNA member newsrooms will benefit from using the Legislative Reference Bureau’s publication on privacy laws as a staff training and development tool.

Wisconsin Photographers Bill of Rights

This one-page document outlines the rights and responsibilities of news photographers under Wisconsin law. It offers special advice and outlines rights in particular circumstances often encountered by news photographers, including locations such as public and private properties, schools, court proceedings, medical facilities and more.


Open Government

Here are some important resources related to Wisconsin’s public records and open meetings laws.

Wisconsin Public Records Law

Full text of Wisconsin Statute 19.31-19.39.

Wisconsin Open Meetings Law

Full text of Wisconsin Statute 19.81-19.98.

Records Request Templates

There are several great templates and letter-generators available to help you file a public records request:

Pocket Guide

Wallet-size summaries of the Wisconsin Public Records and Open Meetings laws are available free to newsroom staff, courtesy of the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council. WNA is a founding member of the council.

Compliance Guides

In 2015, the Department of Justice created new resources to help Wisconsinites understand their rights to access government meetings and documents. Download the Open Meetings Law Compliance Guide and Public Records Law Compliance Guide.

Attorney General Opinions and Letters

The Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council has compiled a list of formal and informal opinions by the Attorney General that provide advice regarding the state’s open meetings and public records laws.


Wisconsin Public Notices

The WNA hosts WisconsinPublicNotices.org, an important tool to enhance the presence of public notices in newspapers. This free service gives the public access to all legal notices that have been published in newspapers around the state.

The Three Rs of Public Notice

Public notices are more than advertising. They’re really news. Here are some tips to incorporate public notices into your reporting.

Wisconsin VendorNet System

VendorNet provides easy access to a wide variety of information of interest to vendors who wish to provide goods and services to the state as well as state agencies and municipalities. Bidding and the time required to identify new vendors is minimized while vendors are automatically notified of opportunities in their area of interest.

Wisconsin Newspaper Association