The UW Madison-Division of Extension and Fitchburg FACTv are collaborating on a series of short videos to explain how local government functions. Karl Green, Program Manager of the Local Government Education Program, approached Wisconsin Community Media for help in creating easy to digest videos to explain various concepts and procedures to local news reporters and newly elected officials.
Mary Cardona, Executive Director of Wisconsin Community Media, who involved Jeremy Crosby, Director of FACTv, in the project, immediately saw it as a way to also educate citizens and create better informed voters. “Jeremy agreed immediately to produce the spots, knowing that the series fits perfectly with the mission of community media centers to make government transparent and educate residents on the issues,” said Cardona.
Green says about 20% of local officials are new every two years and local news reporters rotate in and out of positions at “significant rates.” The lack of understanding about how local government works means that officials may make decisions based on inaccurate concepts and that reporters may write stories couched in an inaccurate understanding of what is going on and finally, voters may make decisions based on erroneous information in the media.
The Local Government Education Program has been providing factual non-biased, non-partisan local government education for decades. “Wisconsin Community Media is very excited to be partnering with the Extension on these videos,” said Cardona.
The first set of videos will be covering municipal budgets. Among the topics covered are explaining the revenue and expense sides of a local government budget, describing what a levy is, understanding the concept of “net new construction,” and the role of a referendum. Later videos will cover municipal property taxes and municipal elections.
