Local Reporting of Coronavirus Crisis Thrives — Wisconsin State Journal Shines in Madison, Wisconsin

Madison, Wisconsin — Not the creativity of bio-catastrophe writers, Richard Preston, Daniel Kalla and Robin Cook, can dream-up the economic, psychological and sociological consequences of the new coronavirus hitting the world, (CDC, World Health Organization, Madison, Wisconsin, Dane County Public Health).

Humanity is fighting back against this biological entity, the virus, COVID 19.

The medical community, restaurants, and bio-research communities are shining as white knights. So, are workers at grocery and liquor stores.

But it is a seemingly imperiled institution that has improbably seen a reemergence here during this public safety crisis — local journalism.

Local journalism isn't dead, though it perhaps looked that way not too long ago.

Since the coronavirus COVID 19 crisis unfolded mere weeks ago, this phenomenon has spurned a rebirth of local journalism.

The Wisconsin State Journal daily in Madison is leading the way, and its sister journal, The Capital Times, is also surging.

Public relations consultants around theses parts pitching stories are finding a common response — ' we just ran a piece on that.'

From coverage of innovation and persistence of local restaurants to the shockingly corrupt action of Wisconsin Gov Tony Evers refusing to halt elections in the middle of an unprecedented public health emergency, local journalism is alive and well.

One hopes it lives forever.
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Also, Richard Preston, Daniel Kalla and Robin Cook have new books out.

Nichols: GOP Fought Pandemic Preparedness

As the world health authorities contend with halting the Swine flu, John Nichols points to the almost pathological disdain that Republicans have for the government's promoting public health, and specifically stopping pandemics in his GOP Know-Nothings Fought Pandemic Preparedness (The Nation).

When House Appropriations Committee chairman David Obey, the Wisconsin Democrat who has long championed investment in pandemic preparation, included roughly $900 million for that purpose in this year's emergency stimulus bill, he was ridiculed by conservative operatives and congressional Republicans.

With a major political party actually hostile to the idea of public health, not a good idea to be reading Daniel Kalla bio-terror novels like Pandemic, in case anyone brought some of this genre of books for their girlfriend last Valentines Day.