WisconsinEye Brings Citizens into the Political Loop
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2007-12-14 14:16:33.207994-05:00
Whether you're extremely supportive or steaming mad about an issue the State Legislature is planning to debate on the Capitol floor in the near future, there's no longer any need to drive all the way to Madison to hear about it first-hand.
With 70 robotic cameras in the State Capitol - spanning all three branches of government (legislative, executive and judicial) - The WisconsinEye Network is now positioned to bring the hard-hitting state-issues coverage citizens want and need right into their living room.
WisconsinEye is a statewide multimedia public affairs network that launched in May of 2007. Through its fully digital broadcast production technology, the network's mission is to present an independent view of public policy discussion, beginning with nonpartisan, gavel-to-gavel coverage of state government in Madison, both on the air and Internet.
The network's cameras cover floor sessions of the state Senate and Assembly, as well as legislative committee hearings. They cover oral arguments in the Wisconsin Supreme Court and events in the governor's and attorney general's conference rooms. With their field cameras, WisconsinEye covers news conferences and events throughout the Capitol as well as other forums where public policy is discussed and debated.
AARP, a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization with nearly 825,000 members in Wisconsin alone, encourages the expansion of WisconsinEye both on the Internet and with cable and satellite providers across the state.
"Our members are people who care deeply about the variety of state issues addressed by WisconsinEye," said AARP Wisconsin State Director D'Anna Bowman. "Our membership could even be considered the network's target audience for the type of programming they offer."
The network is currently being carried by the state's two largest cable companies - Charter (Channel 200) and Time-Warner (Channel 163), as well as on the Internet. It has plans to increase its programming and visibility throughout Wisconsin in the near future.
"Our push is to raise public awareness and make sure our programming is reaching the widest possible audience," said Christopher Long, President and CEO of WisconsinEye. "We provide direct access to the political process. It's up to the viewer to chose who they think is right or wrong in the debate."
Bowman agreed. "Much like AARP, WisconsinEye is committed to exposing Wisconsinites to the work being done by our State Legislature and finding new ways to inform and invigorate them to become educated on issues, actively participate in the process, and express their own political views," she said.
"Our members who regularly view WisconsinEye either on the air or on the Internet tell us they appreciate the network's quality of coverage and content. They are hoping we will get the word out to cable television providers that they want this network to continue expanding its boundaries and its public service mission," Bowman said.
Long said the future demands that WisconsinEye continue to find new and better ways to connect, engage, talk, debate, share, learn and grow.
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